Experienced Wheaton, Illinois Property Crimes Defense Attorneys

DuPage County Retail Theft and Property Damage Defense Lawyers

Property crimes account for about 86 percent of the all the crimes committed in Illinois, according to the National Institute of Corrections. These offenses are quite serious. A conviction can result in large fines, jail or prison time, public ridicule, and months or years of court supervision. A criminal history, especially one that involves property crime, may make future employers think twice about trusting you with their own property and may limit your job prospects.

At the Law Offices of Salvatore C. Miglore & Associates, we aggressively represent people who are accused of property crimes, and our experienced Wheaton property crime attorneys work hard to produce the best possible outcome. Sometimes we can negotiate with prosecutors for a reduced charge or a reduced sentence, and sometimes we are able to have the case thrown out of court.

“Property crime” is an umbrella term in criminal law which includes any offense involving the misuse of property belonging to someone else. Some specific offenses include:

• Theft: If a person takes control of property without the permission of the owner, or uses a threat to assume such control, the person can be charged with this offense.
• Possession of Stolen Property: A person who knows, or should have known, that the property was stolen and acts in a way that would permanently deprive the owner of its use or benefit is also guilty of theft.
• Defacement of Property: Any vandalism or damage to public or private property, whether done intentionally or recklessly, is generally a crime. It is also illegal to damage your own property to collect insurance money through arson or any other method.
• White Collar Crime: Whether it involves taking a few dollars from an open cash register or a complicated Ponzi scheme, fraud, embezzlement, forgery and other white collar crimes are very serious matters.
• Retail Theft: Shoplifting is a key subset of theft cases. It is a myth that people cannot be charged with these crimes unless they leave the store without paying for an item.

Other common property crimes include loitering, trespassing, identity theft and use of a fraudulent ID.

The range of punishment typically depends on the value of the property. Shoplifting a DVD, for example, often leads to a misdemeanor charge while auto theft or credit card theft are very serious felonies. Property crime can also be the basis of another offense; for example, if a person has a weapon when committing a property crime, prosecutors can charge the defendant with armed robbery. Many property crimes involve more than one defendant. The person who drove the getaway car or kept lookout is just as guilty as the person who stole copper wire from a construction site or tagged cars in the parking lot.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a property crime, contact the Law Offices of Salvatore C. Miglore & Associates for a free consultation. Our attorneys serve clients throughout DuPage, Will, Cook, DeKalb, McHenry, Kendall, Lake, and Kane Counties. Call us at (630) 933-8400.