Criminal Defense: NYC Theft Lawyers

Last Updated on: 18th April 2025, 11:10 pm

NYC THEFT LAWYERS

Spodek Law Group is a nationwide criminal defense firm, available 24/7, and run by Todd Spodek. If you are charged with any form of theft in New York City, you do not have time for guesswork – you need a criminal attorney now, who will go to court, plead you out, and then deal with the case for you. The police will not “hear you out,” the District Attorney will not “go easy,” and the court calendar keeps moving whether you are ready or not. This is why dealing with a criminal accusation is so difficult. You have no choice but to deal with it, because the clocks keep ticking. You need facts, you need leverage, and you need a strategic defense plan that wins.

First Things First – What Counts as “Theft” in New York?

New York combines many property crimes under the term “larceny.” The core definition sits in New York Penal Law §155.05. In plain English, taking someone else’s property with intent to keep it or deprive the owner of it is larceny. That intent piece is huge; without it, the prosecution has no case.

Common Theft Charges We See in NYC

• Petit Larceny (§155.25) – Property value up to $1,000; class A misdemeanor.
• Grand Larceny Fourth Degree (§155.30) – $1,001‑$3,000 or specific property types; class E felony.
• Grand Larceny Third Degree (§155.35) – $3,001‑$50,000; class D felony.
• Grand Larceny Second Degree (§155.40) – $50,001‑$1 million; class C felony.
• Grand Larceny First Degree (§155.42) – Over $1 million; class B felony.

Penalties at a Glance

Look at those numbers. One bad decision, or one sloppy accusation, can result in decades behind bars plus life‑changing fines. That is not scare‑tactic language—it is statute‑backed legal reality you have to face, and deal with.

Process Overview – From Handcuffs to Arraignment

Picture this: NYPD makes the arrest, walks you through central booking, and you sit for hours before seeing a judge. Your next 24 hours are scripted by the NYC Criminal Court schedule, you have no say in the matter. At arraignment the prosecutor states the charges, bail is set (or not), and the clock starts on discovery deadlines under CPL §245.20. Evidence begins trading hands almost immediately. If you wait days to hire counsel, evidence review opportunities disappear, discovery violations go unchallenged, and leverage evaporates.

Strategic Truth: The real fight starts before the arraignment ends. Our firm demands full discovery on day one, files notice to preserve surveillance footage, and locks in speedy‑trial clocks. Delay at this stage is the death of viable defenses.

Defense Leverage Points – Where We Attack

Let’s cut the fluff and outline the pressure points that win theft cases:

1. Intent – Prosecution’s Achilles Heel
   Larceny requires proof you intended permanent deprivation. If we show your action was a misunderstanding, a civil debt, or temporary borrowing, the charge collapses. Example: A construction worker picks up the wrong toolbox on a jobsite. That is not theft; that is confusion.
2. Ownership Disputes
   Shared business assets, joint marital property, or unclear title documents create reasonable doubt. The moment we introduce a legitimate claim of right, prosecutors start sweating.
3. Chain of Custody & Surveillance Integrity
   Video evidence from private stores frequently violates NYPD evidence‑handling guidelines. If timestamps jump or footage is missing, we file Franks motions and suppression requests. Evidence that cannot be authenticated is evidence that never sees a jury.
4. Fourth Amendment Violations
   Illegal searches under U.S. Const. Amend. IV lead to tossed evidence. When police open a bag without probable cause or warrant, everything they find is tainted. Result: evidence tossed, case crippled, dismissal negotiations begin.
5. Plea Engineering & Diversion
   Some clients need a fast exit. We push for adjournments in contemplation of dismissal, misdemeanor pleas on felony arrests, or Desk Appearance Ticket resolutions. The key is relentless negotiation backed by trial‑ready posture.

Case Spotlight – High‑Value Retail Theft

Manhattan designer‑bag employee charged with $400,000 inside job theft – walks free on dismissal.

Store security alleged our client skimmed one luxury item per month for three years. Paper trail looked lethal. Our forensic accountant traced inventory gaps to multiple employees and supplier shrinkage. CCTV had gaps; chain of custody looked like Swiss cheese. We filed a pre‑trial motion to dismiss under CPL §170.30, arguing insufficient evidence and Brady violations. Judge agreed. Case dismissed. Consequence: No felony record, no jail, client kept professional license.

Collateral Damage – The Part Most People Ignore

Even misdemeanor theft convictions explode into long‑term problems:

• Immigration Pain – Theft is a “crime of moral turpitude.” Non‑citizens risk removal proceedings before EOIR immigration courts. A dismissed charge or reduced plea can save immigration status.
• Employment Blacklists – Background checks flag theft. Employers in banking, healthcare, and construction licensing reject applicants outright.
• Professional Licensing – The New York Department of State can suspend real‑estate, security‑guard, or contractor licenses after a conviction. That is income gone, full stop.

Statement + Consequence: A petty theft plea today, means lost union membership tomorrow, which means smaller paychecks for years.

Your Immediate Action Plan

Too many people sabotage their defense because they believe myths:

1. “I can talk my way out of it.” – No, you cannot. Anything you say becomes Exhibit A at trial.
2. “It’s my first arrest, so the judge will cut slack.” – Judges follow statutes, not sympathy.
3. “Public defenders never lose.” – Some are excellent, but they juggle 100+ cases. You need personal bandwidth now.

Your three‑step survival guide:

• Invoke Silence – Say “I want my lawyer.” Repeat it. Nothing else.
• Collect Evidence – Secure receipts, texts, job records. We build narratives fast if paperwork exists.
• Hire Spodek Law Group – We answer calls at 888‑997‑5177 round the clock. Early retention equals procedural leverage.

Why Spodek Law Group Beats NYC Theft Charges

Other lawyers brag about connections to prosecutors. We brag about forcing prosecutors to dismiss or downgrade because the evidence cannot survive scrutiny.

Our Core Advantages:

• Over 50 years combined experience – Felonies, misdemeanors, federal property crimes.
• Nationwide reach – We coordinate multi‑state investigations when theft charges cross state lines or involve interstate shipping fraud.
• Digital Portal – Secure uploads, real‑time case status, invoice transparency.
• Media‑tested advocacy – When the press calls, we control the narrative, not the prosecutor.

Brutal honesty: If your facts are ugly, we tell you. If restitution plus plea saves decades of prison, we push you—hard—to take it. If the State’s evidence is garbage, we go to trial and shred it. No ego, just results.

Common Questions Answered

What if the alleged amount is under $100?
The DA still charges Petit Larceny. It looks minor, but a conviction delivers a permanent criminal record. We aim for adjournment in contemplation of dismissal—case sealed after six months.

Can store security detain me without police?
Yes, under General Obligations Law §218 they have “shopkeeper’s privilege.” Abuse of that privilege opens civil‑rights countersuits, which we file when guards cross the line.

Will returning the property end the case?
It may soften sentencing, but it does not undo the arrest. We leverage voluntary return to negotiate dismissals, but the outcome depends on DA policy and prior record.

The Strategic Advisor’s Challenge to You

Reading this article is step one. Step two is action. If you delay because “maybe it will blow over,” you are lying to yourself. Evidence ages badly, surveillance is overwritten, witnesses disappear, and your bargaining power withers. I am calling you out: pick up the phone, secure counsel, and force the system to respect your rights.

RISK FREE CONSULTATION – 24/7

Call 888‑997‑5177 or contact us online. One consultation costs nothing and can save your future.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney‑client relationship with Spodek Law Group. Every case is unique; outcomes depend on specific facts, prior history, and evolving law. For personalized guidance, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. If you send information through our website, it is not secure and is done on a non‑confidential basis until we sign a retainer agreement.