Larceny & Theft Defense

The Blanch Law Firm offers extensive experience defending against charges of Burglary, Larceny, Grand Larceny, Petit Larceny, Grand Theft Auto, Trespassing, and related Theft crimes. We handle felony and misdemeanor theft charges in state and federal district court, and investigations conducted by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Dedicated, seasoned, and thorough, our attorneys–former prosecutors who have worked both sides of the criminal defense bar–know “all the tricks of the trade” and how to use them to produce the best possible results for our clients. Superb negotiators at plea-bargaining with prosecutors, our attorneys also demonstrate superb courtroom skills that have resulted in an unprecedented number of Dismissals in Theft Cases that have gone to trial.

Burglary

■Burglary means knowingly entering, or unlawfully remaining, in a building or residence with intent to commit a crime (Penal Law Article 140.20).
■If a deadly weapon is used in the commission of a burglary, the crime rises to Burglary in the First Degree, and another count, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, can be added to the indictment.
■The Blanch Law Firm has successfully defended clients against the crimes of Burglary and Weapons Possession, obtaining in many cases dismissal of all charges.
■Read more about our knowledge of and experience with Burglary cases.

Grand Larceny

■Grand Larceny means taking the property of another person unlawfully (Penal Law Article 155.05), based on its value, which is usually large (hence the term “grand larceny”).
■The severity of Larceny charges is a function of the property’s value. If the amount exceeds $1 million, the crime charged will be Grand Larceny in the First Degree.
■Read more about our provision of dedicated, experienced Defense of Grand Larceny Charges.

Grand Theft Auto

■Grand Theft Auto means the crime of stealing cars (Penal Law Article 155.30). Even if the stolen car is valued at no more than $100.00, the charge applies.
■Related charges in an indictment are:
■Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in the First Degree (Penal Law Article 165.08), which means taking or operating or riding in (“joyriding”) a car without the owner’s consent.
■Auto Stripping in the First Degree (Penal Law Article 165.11), which means removing car parts valued at more than $3,000.00.
■The Blanch Law Firm’s experienced attorneys have an unparalleled record of success in car theft cases, including obtaining dismissal of all charges against operators of an international car smuggling ring.
■Read more about how we defend those accused of Grand Theft Auto.

Petit Larceny

■Petit Larceny is defined simply as “stealing property” (Penal Law Article 155.25).
■Petit Larceny charges often stem from charges of Shoplifting and other relatively minor acts of theft.
■A misdemeanor offense, Petit Larceny is unlikely to result in a jury trial when charged as a lone count. In practice, a bench trial is ordered, meaning that the judge sits also as the jury to reach a verdict.
■The Blanch Law Firm’s experienced and thorough attorneys have used pre-trial motion practice to obtain dismissal of many Petit Larceny charges before the cases have even gone to trial.
■Learn more about our approach to and record of success defending those accused of Petit Larceny.

Robbery

■Robbery is “forcible stealing” according to Penal Law Section Article 160.00, meaning that the victim is aware of the theft, as opposed to larceny or burglary where no one but the thief might be aware of the unlawful taking.
A Robbery charge rises in severity if a firearm or other deadly weapon is used to commit the crime (“armed robbery”), also known as Robbery in the First Degree.
■The Blanch Law Firm defends against robbery and weapons charges with seasoned and thorough attorneys–former prosecutors–whose masterful courtroom skills have resulted invariably in outcomes favorable to clients.
■Check out what we’ve done lately for those accused of Robbery.

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