Theft

Are you facing Theft Charges?

As criminal lawyers, we regularly appear at all Melbourne Courts, representing clients charged with a range of theft offences.

We have offices in Melbourne, Ballarat, Ringwood, Frankston, Geelong, Werribee, Dandenong, and Moorabbin, and we regularly appear at the courts in all of these locations.

The judiciary takes theft charges very seriously, and so do we. These charges can severely affect a person’s record, making future employment prospects challenging. We understand the gravity of this situation and are here to help.

There are many different types of theft charges. You can look to the right of this page to view the Victorian State offence of theft under s74 of the Crimes Act 1958; there is also the Commonwealth charge of theft under s131.1 of the Criminal Code for dishonesty matters crossing state borders; and then there are more serious examples of theft relating to burglary and aggravated burglary.

While not strictly a theft offence, trespass is linked to theft and is commonly charged in addition to theft offences. Trespass is a summary offence under s9 of the Summary Offences Act 1966.

It is not unusual for police to charge more than one of these charges, so experienced advice is always important. 

What is the penalty for theft?

In Victoria, it really depends on the nature of the charge and the amount stolen. For small thefts, diversion or without conviction, good behaviour bonds are in range; for larger thefts involving tens of thousands of dollars, an immediate custodial sentence becomes a real possibility. Where your offence fits into the sentencing scale needs to be discussed with an experienced defence lawyer who handles theft cases.