Canton, MI Theft and Property Crimes Attorney

Over the past few years, the Canton Township Police Department has given residents several notices of increased trends in theft and property crime, especially in regards to unlocked or opened residential garage doors. Furthermore, crimes such as auto theft, armed and unarmed robbery, carjacking, credit card fraud, and other types of theft and property crime have been on the rise throughout Wayne County. This recent uptick in theft and property crime has led Canton police and Wayne County sheriffs to initiate stronger regulations and policing for theft, and even in the courts, prosecutors and judges are looking to provide stronger examples to deter potential thieves – sometimes via unfair court proceedings and harsh punishments. If under investigation or arrest for theft or property crime, it is essential to acquire the help of an experienced Canton, MI theft and property crimes attorney to justly represent your case in court.

The moment you discover that police are investigating you, or if you have been placed under arrest (including arrest by summons or by warrant), contact Grabel & Associates immediately. The sooner we can being reviewing the details of your case, investigating the circumstances of your arrest, and building a comprehensive theft and property crime defense, the stronger chance you’ll have of receiving a not-guilty verdict, reduced sentencing, or alternative sentencing. We’ve helped thousands of clients throughout Michigan, including Wayne County and Canton, and our knowledge of the criminal proceedings within the 35^th District Court in Plymouth and the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit can help you attain an attractive outcome.

What to Do If Under Investigation or Arrest

Whether you’re under investigation or under arrest, it is essential to know that anything you say or do can and will be used against you in the court of law. Especially in regards to theft and property crime, police and investigators are busy gathering evidence against you before they make an arrest. Likewise, you should never speak to Canton Township law officers without a criminal defense attorney representing your interests. Police at this stage may act like your “friend,” but regardless of the friendliness of a police officer, you need to remember that they are conducting an investigation to strengthen a case intended to incriminate you. At Grabel & Associates, we will stand by your side and make sure that you are not coerced or otherwise tricked into making incriminating statements.

Basic Defenses for Theft

If you have been charged with a property crime or theft, and if the evidence seems stacked against you, the most important thing you can do is to not panic. Our attorneys at Grabel & Associates have seen it all when it comes to a good criminal defense for theft and property crimes, and we know what works in the 35^th District Court and the Third Judicial Circuit Court. Some basic defenses include:

• Specific intent: No matter the severity of the alleged theft or property crime, every theft charge must prove that the defendant had specific intent to commit the crime. If prosecution is unable to show specific intent, then the defendant is entitled to a non-guilty verdict.
• Asportation: In order for there to be a theft or property crime, the defendant would have carried away the property. In general, proof of asportation requires three components, including:
• Severing the property from the possession of the owner
• The property was in possession of the defendant
• The property was moved, however slightly
• Claim of right: This defense can be useful if it is beneficial to prove that the defendant believed he/she had right to the property, even if that belief was mistaken.

Defenses such as intoxication and entrapment are also effective defenses against theft charges.

Theft By False Pretense

If accused of theft by false pretense, which is defined as when a person essentially commits theft or embezzlement through a lie, there are several strong options to explore for an effective defense. For example, if the prosecution cannot prove the false pretenses, then the defendant cannot be charged. Other defenses include not knowing the pretense was false, reasonable belief of a misrepresented statement, absence of obligation to give information (if the defendant is charged with withholding information), and not fulfilling a genuinely intended promise.

Contact Grabel & Associates Today

Having a strong defense is crucial to winning a theft or property crime case or, at least, letting you walk away with a greatly reduced sentence or an alternative sentence, such as community service. Through extensive case planning, private investigations, and insider knowledge of Wayne County courts, we at Grabel & Associates will determine the best course of action for your case. At the same time, we’ll make sure that you’re an active participant in the case, and we’ll always organize the defense strategy around your principal interests. If you are under investigation or under arrest, contact Grabel & Associates immediately at 1-800-342-7896.