In Canada, you can be charged with stealing when you take or convert anything that belongs to another person to deprive that person of that good. To convert something means you acquired someone else’s property and then transformed it into another good for your benefit. If you have been accused of theft and there seems to be solid evidence against you but you haven’t done anything, do not give up hope. With the help of an excellent criminal defence lawyer, you can walk away from your charges without a criminal record.

In Canada, theft charges fall into theft over $5000.00 and theft under $5000.00. Theft over $5000.00 is the more severe of the two counts, for which you can face up to ten years in prison if convicted. Theft under $5000.00 is a hybrid crime meaning the Crown can decide to prosecute you either summarily or by indictment. If the Crown chooses to charge you by indictment, they will probably be seeking jail time, and if they charge you summarily, you can still face up to six months in jail if you are convicted of theft under $5000.00.