A DuPage County Theft and Burglary Attorney Will Advocate For Your Future

Theft, burglary, and criminal property damage are very serious charges that can carry serious consequences, even when they are misdemeanor charges. Understanding the nature of your charges and the potential consequences is critical to achieving a fair outcome. A DuPage County theft and burglary attorney can help you understand your options and develop an effective legal defense focused on achieving the best possible result.

The Crime of Theft Under Illinois Law

Theft, also known as larceny, is defined by 720 ILCS 5/16-3 as when someone knowingly:

• Obtains or exerts unauthorized control over the property that belongs to someone else;
• Obtains control over someone else’s property by deception or threat;
• Receives property knowing it was stolen or if a reasonable person would have known it was stolen

Furthermore, the person accused of theft must have intended to permanently deprive the owner of the use or benefit of the property in some way. The crime of theft can include shoplifting, embezzlement, fraud, carjacking, and vehicle theft. Theft can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the value of the property in question.

If you have been charged with theft, you may have legal defenses that you can raise. Some of these defenses include the following:

• The owner gave their consent to take the property
• You did not intend to deprive the owner of the property permanently
• You were mistaken in some material way—you believed the owner gave their consent or that the property belonged to you

If you are facing theft charges, a DuPage County theft and burglary attorney can protect your rights and make sure you get a fair result.

Burglary

Burglary is a type of theft crime but is unique in some very important ways. 720 ILCS 5/19-1 defines burglary as entering into various types of structures or vehicles without permission and intending to commit a felony or theft therein. As a result, you can be charged with burglary:

• If the structure or vehicle was unlocked or open;
• You did not steal anything;
• You did not commit a felony; but
• You had the intent to commit a felony or steal something.

Burglary is a felony charge with severe consequences—you could face anywhere from 2 to 15 years in prison if you are convicted. If you are facing a burglary charge, a DuPage County theft and burglary attorney can evaluate the prosecution’s case and help you understand your options.

Criminal Damage to Property

While not a theft crime, another common property-related offense involves criminal damage to property. Under 720 ILCS 5/21-1, you can be charged with this offense for the following actions:

• Knowingly causing damage to another person’s property
• Recklessly causing damage to another person’s property by means of fire or explosives
• Knowingly starting a fire on another person’s land
• Knowingly injuring a domestic animal belonging to another person without their consent
• Knowingly setting off a stink bomb or similar device on someone else’s property
• Knowingly causing damage to any property with the intent to cause insurance fraud

There are other scenarios where you may be charged with criminal damage to property, but these are the most common. Similar to theft, criminal damage to property can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor – the severity of the charges you face will depend on the value of the property you damage.

DuPage County Theft and Burglary Attorney Michael Stefanos for Help

If you have been charged with theft, burglary, or some other property-related crime, DuPage County theft and burglary attorney Michael Stefanos will fight for a fair outcome. Contact us today by phone or email to schedule a free consultation.

We represent clients all over DuPage County, including Addison, Aurora, Bartlett, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Itasca, Lemont, Lisle, Naperville, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Roselle, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Villa Park, Warrenville, Wayne Chicago, West Chicago, Westmont, Wheaton, Willowbrook, Winfield, Wood Dale, and Woodridge.