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New York Petit Larceny Lawyer
Petit larceny is often charged as a misdemeanor, but it can still create a permanent criminal record, immigration concerns, employment problems, licensing issues, and difficulty passing background checks. Even a low-value accusation deserves a careful defense.
Lebedin Kofman LLP defends clients accused of petit larceny, shoplifting, employee theft, property disputes, and related theft offenses in New York City, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. The firm evaluates both the criminal charge and the collateral consequences that may matter most to the client.
What Is at Stake
The immediate concern may be avoiding jail, but the long-term concern is often avoiding a theft-related conviction. A theft record can be especially damaging for students, licensed professionals, noncitizens, public employees, financial workers, retail workers, healthcare workers, and anyone applying for jobs or housing.
How Prosecutors Build These Cases
Petit larceny cases may be built from store security reports, witness claims, video clips, receipts, recovered merchandise, employee records, point-of-sale data, alleged admissions, and police paperwork. In many cases, the defense turns on intent, value, identification, ownership, or whether the evidence tells the full story.
Evidence We Look For Early
- Store video, body camera footage, and security reports
- Receipts, return records, loyalty-account records, and payment history
- Civil demand letters and communications from the store or complainant
- Witness statements, employee statements, and police notes
- Property value records and proof of ownership
- Prior record information and eligibility for dismissal or reduction paths
Defense Issues We Evaluate
- Lack of intent to steal
- Mistake, accident, confusion, or ownership dispute
- Problems proving value or possession
- Unreliable witness or store security procedures
- Suppression of statements or illegally obtained evidence
- Adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, reduction, restitution, or other resolution options where appropriate
Local Defense Strategy in New York City and Long Island
Petit larceny cases are handled differently across New York City, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. Local practice can affect desk appearance tickets, arraignment timing, diversion possibilities, dismissal negotiations, restitution discussions, and how quickly the case can be positioned for a noncriminal outcome.
How Lebedin Kofman LLP Helps
The defense may involve challenging the arrest, testing the strength of the evidence, negotiating with prosecutors, preparing motion practice, investigating witnesses and video, and positioning the case for dismissal, reduction, trial, or the best possible resolution. The firm also looks at collateral consequences, including immigration, licensing, employment, school, family, and reputation issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I speak with investigators or store security?
No one should discuss the facts of a criminal allegation with police, prosecutors, private security, employers, banks, insurers, or investigators before speaking with a defense lawyer. Statements that seem harmless can be used later.
Can these charges be reduced or dismissed?
Sometimes. The answer depends on the evidence, prior history, restitution or loss issues, witness problems, search and statement issues, and the courthouse handling the case. Early defense work often creates more options.
Related Criminal Defense Pages
Request a free consultation if you were arrested, received a desk appearance ticket, were contacted by investigators, or believe you are under investigation.