Experienced Theft Attorney Adam M. Lustberg - Criminal Defense Attorney

Taking something from another party without permission or consent is, at its most general, referred to as theft. Typically, the severity of theft charges is dependent on the value of the items that have been stolen, beginning with petty theft and ultimately working up to grand theft through a series of degrees. Beyond determining whether or not theft charges will be filed as a first through fourth degree, there are many other factors that will go into the court’s decisions on things like the penalties for a conviction and the impact that these changes will have on the defendant’s life.

If you have been charged with theft of any sort in Hackensack or anywhere else in New Jersey, contact Lustberg Law Offices, LLC as soon as possible in order to schedule a free initial consultation. Attorney Adam M. Lustberg and our team of theft defense lawyers may be able to help. As your defense team, we will be able to go through every detail of your case and ultimately identify a few different paths that may be used for your defense. When you are facing an aggressive prosecuting attorney in New Jersey courts, working with an experienced and equally aggressive defense attorney is one of the most important steps for you to take.

Read more below to learn more about theft crimes in New Jersey, and contact us as soon as possible for your free initial consultation. We will be able to discuss the specifics of your charges and the possible consequences that you face for a conviction and help you understand how our experience can be such a significant help to your case.

Call us today at (201) 880-5311.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Committed to providing clients with individual attention and crafting personalized defense strategies based on the facts of the case.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Adam M. Lustberg Gives Examples of Theft Crimes in New Jersey

As you can imagine by the general definition of “theft,” there are many different situations that can warrant a theft charge. The following examples are just a few common situations that result in theft charges. The next section will explain how these crimes are charged to a certain degree.

Petty Theft

Petty theft is typically a misdemeanor but is filed as a “disorderly person’s offense” and is applied in situations where the value of the goods stolen is minor. This can be something like stealing money from a tip jar, pocket cash from someone’s home, or other goods of low value. When the value of the goods or money that you stole, or were caught attempting to steal, amount to less than $500, you will likely be charged with petty theft.

Shoplifting

Shoplifting is another example of petty theft, although there are situations where a shoplifting charge could be elevated to a higher degree if the value of the good stolen adds up to enough. You can be charged with shoplifting even if you are caught in the act of attempting to steal something, by being caught concealing merchandise in a store or tampering with price tags.

Auto Theft

Taking someone’s car without permission is the basis for an auto theft charge, but there are further distinctions that specify the actual charges. Carjacking occurs when the owner of the vehicle is in the “immediate presence” of the automobile, and the perpetrator takes the vehicle by force or threat of force. Grand theft auto is when a car is taken from someone else without permission, but the owner is not around to be threatened or harmed. Stealing a car that is idling in a parking lot is grand theft, but forcing someone out of their car and stealing it is carjacking.

Robbery

Robbery is the act of taking something that someone else owns or possesses through either violence or the threat of violence. This could be, for example, threatening someone with a knife and taking money from them that they have just withdrawn from an ATM, or forcing a cashier to hand over the money in their till. Armed robbery charges are applied when the person uses a weapon such as a knife or a gun during the act.

Extortion

New Jersey’s extortion statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-5, states that “A person is guilty of theft by extortion if he purposely and unlawfully obtains property of another by extortion. A person extorts if he purposely threatens to:

Inflict bodily injury on or physically confine or restrain anyone or commit any other criminal offense;
Accuse anyone of an offense or cause charges of an offense to be instituted against any person;
Expose or publicize any secret or any asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to impair his credit or business repute;
Take or withhold action as an official, or cause an official to take or withhold action;
Bring about or continue a strike, boycott, or other collective action, if the property is not demanded or received for the benefit of the group in whose interest the actor purports to act;
Testify or provide information or withhold testimony or information with respect to another’s legal claim or defense;
Inflict any other harm which would not substantially benefit the actor but which is calculated to materially harm another person;
As you can see from this statute, there are a variety of ways that someone can commit and be accused of extortion in the state of New Jersey;

Facing a theft charge can make a huge impact on someone’s life. It may seem like a minor charge, however, a theft charge can actually carry serious consequences. This is why it’s very important to seek the help of a defense lawyer who can help you navigate the complexities of the legal system.

At Lustberg Law Offices, LLC, attorney Adam M. Lustberg and our team of theft defense attorneys may be able to help.

Contact us today at (201) 880-5311.

Theft Defense Attorney Adam M. Lustberg Explains the Degrees of Theft Charges in New Jersey

New Jersey does not adhere to the distinction of a “misdemeanor” or a “felony” charge when pertaining to theft charges. Instead, there are a series of degrees that are applied depending on specific factors of the case.

Value Totalling Less than $200

This is called a disorderly person’s offense, which can come with penalties of up to $1,000 in fines and up to 6 months in jail.

Value Totalling Between $200 and $500

This is a fourth-degree offense, which carries up to an 18-month sentence and $10,000 in fines.

Value Totalling Between $500 and $75,000

This is known as a third-degree offense and has possible penalties of up to 5 years in prison and $15,000 in fines.

Value Totalling More than $75,000

The theft of goods with over $75,000 in value is a second-degree offense and comes with up to 10 years in prison and $150,000 in fines.

We have years of experience in courts through NJ and NY and a proven track record of success in criminal cases.

Client Reviews

"If I could give Lustberg law offices more than 5 stars I would. Adam M. Lustberg is by far the best criminal defense attorney I have ever met. He is the most knowledgeable, professional, and highly respected in the area. Mr. Lustberg will go above and beyond to make sure he gets you the best possible outcome for your situation. Adam M. Lustberg fought long and hard for my mother and instead of her serving what could’ve been a 5-10 year sentence in jail, she got the minimum sentence of 364 days which is now downgraded to 6 months. Thank you Lustberg law offices for all your hard work! Everyone makes mistakes and Lustberg law offices are on your side."

- Nina Suslovich -

"I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer, and quite frankly I was actually very surprised he was able to handle my case in the way it was done. I highly recommend Adam to anyone who needs a gentleman in his profession."

- Kaitlin DeMarino -

"Luckily ive only had to use mr.lustbergs services once but i will forever say he is the best lawyer in the world! He’s always available to answer any questions i have and is always happy to help even months after having all my charges dismissed. I’d give more then 5 stars if i could."

- patty kim -

"I must say Out of all my experiences with Lawyers, doing business with Adam was the best. After first meeting Adam and informing him of my Situation, he reassured me that if there was a way out of it he would find a way. I was hesitant and decided to go to Trial. Adam handled my Trial as a true professional and Made sure every aspect was covered, and decided to go about my trial with the best angle Neccessary. I was acquitted on my Charge and 7 other charges were dismissed.. Best experience and feeling ever..THAnks For my Freedom ADAM!!!"

- JEREMIAH SCHNELL -

"I highly recommended Adam M. Lustberg! Adam is extremely knowledgeable and professional. He clearly knows everything there is to know about criminal law. He is a great communicator, and he gave my case his full attention. If you are searching for a criminal defense attorney, you can stop your search right here. Adam is the very best."

- Dan Winters -

"I have a long history with the Lustberg Law Firm. Adam is highly experienced, a great communicator who will not keep an eye on the time when you are talking to him. He actually listens to the client and goes out of his way to understand your particular goal. Adam always replied to my emails, texts and phone calls. A professional in every respect. I recommend the Lustberg Law firm without any reservations."

- Elvin Serrano -