Marietta Motor Vehicle Theft Lawyer
All theft crimes are taken very seriously in Marietta but motor vehicle theft is one of the most serious offenses. After an arrest, you must take action immediately to make sure your rights are protected and that your freedom is aggressively defended. Motor vehicle theft is usually classified as a felony and as such, you will face the harshest penalties if you are convicted. Our Marietta motor vehicle theft lawyer explains more about this crime below.
Types of Motor Vehicle Theft
There are many different types of motor vehicle theft. A person may steal a vehicle by hot-wiring it. This involves connecting wires so the vehicle will start without a key. When a person hot-wires a vehicle, the owner is usually not in the vicinity. Carjacking, on the other hand, is when a vehicle is stolen and the owner is inside it or in the near vicinity. Usually, force or threats in carjacking cases, which makes the offense more serious.
Two other types of motor vehicle theft are opportunistic theft and fraudulent theft. Opportunistic theft occurs when a person notices that a vehicle was left running and they steal it. Fraudulent theft occurs when a person steals a vehicle through deceptive means. For example, a person who is not the owner of a vehicle may call a towing company and fraudulently tell them to tow a vehicle to a location that is not where the owner is.
Penalties for Motor Vehicle Theft
In Georgia, any theft of property valued at more than $500 is considered a felony. Due to the fact that most vehicles are valued at more than this, most motor vehicle thefts are classified as felonies. When the value of property stolen is between $1,500 and $5,000, the offense is punishable by one to five years in prison. If the property stolen has a value between $5,001 and $25,000, the offense is punishable by one to ten years in prison.
There are other penalties for motor vehicle theft, as well. Your driver’s license may be suspended for one year. If a weapon was used during the commission of the crime, you may also face additional penalties. Lastly, like all other criminal offenses, you will have a permanent criminal record if you are convicted. This can make things very difficult for you in the future. Employers are hesitant to hire anyone with a criminal record but when a potential candidate has a history of a theft crime, they are even more reluctant to hire them.
Our Motor Vehicle Theft Lawyer in Marietta Can Defend Your Case
All theft offenses are considered very serious in Georgia, but stealing a motor vehicle is one of the most severe. At the law firm of Andrew L. Schwartz, P.C., our Marietta motor vehicle theft lawyer can defend against these charges and ensure your rights are protected so you have the best chance of protecting your future. Call us now at (678) 853-2500 or fill out our online form to schedule a free review of your case.
