Grand theft is a theft crime that takes into account the value of the stolen property and the perpetrator’s will. The value that constitutes grand theft varies from state to state and is based on fair market value. A person cannot be convicted of grand theft if they did not intend to keep the stolen items.
An average person may view theft as an obvious wrongdoing. The law, however, does not see it that way. There are various types of theft crimes and grand theft is one of them. This offense takes into account the value of the illegally stolen property and the will of the perpetrator.
Grand theft is generally defined as the theft of property that exceeds a certain value. Property can refer to many things including cash, jewelry, or electronic devices. If a person steals multiple items during an act of theft, the value will usually be assessed collectively rather than individually.
This means that while the items may be cheap, together they can amount to theft. A good example of this is the theft of a compact disc (CD) case. If there are 25 CDs inside, the value of each one and the value of the case they were in add up, making it very possible to hit the threshold.
The value that constitutes grand theft can vary from state to state. Some states do not have this type of theft crime. Those that enforce theft laws generally have a lower category known as petty theft, which applies to theft of property below the value of other theft charges. For example, if a state sets $500 US Dollars (USD) as the amount that constitutes grand theft, the theft of $498 USD worth of property would be petty theft.
Normally, the value of stolen items is not based on the purchase value. Instead, it is based on fair market value which determines how much something was worth when it was taken. In many cases, items depreciate. A CD that is purchased for $20 USD is normally not worth that amount six months later. In some cases, however, the value may rise above the purchase price, such as with art.
A person normally cannot be convicted of gross theft if they did not intend to keep the stolen items. This means that even if a person takes an unauthorized item that meets the value to constitute this offense, he will be acquitted if he can prove that he intended to return it at a future date. A good example of this is a garden service employee who takes out equipment to do personal work.
Grand theft comes from the English common law system. In previous centuries, crime was considered much more serious than it is today. Today, however, it is generally considered a crime. This means that the conviction may result in a prison sentence, but this does not always happen.
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