Robbery and Theft Defense Attorney in Torrance

If you’ve been arrested or charged with robbery, theft, burglary, shoplifting, or any property crime in Torrance, California, you’re facing serious criminal charges that can result in years in state prison, substantial fines, permanent felony convictions, and devastating consequences affecting employment, housing, professional licenses, immigration status, and your future. At Tu Defensor Criminalista, we provide aggressive, strategic legal representation to defend against robbery and theft charges throughout Torrance and Los Angeles County, protecting your freedom, your rights, and your future.

Robbery and theft charges encompass a wide range of alleged property crimes—from shoplifting and petty theft to armed robbery, burglary, grand theft auto, embezzlement, receiving stolen property, and identity theft. Many people charged with these offenses made mistakes during difficult times, face false accusations, were misidentified, or have strong defenses to allegations. We’ve successfully defended hundreds of clients facing robbery and theft charges throughout Los Angeles County, achieving dismissals, acquittals, reduced charges, and favorable outcomes that protect our clients’ records and futures.

Understanding California’s Robbery and Theft Laws

California law defines various property crimes with different elements, penalties, and defenses. Understanding these distinctions is critical to building effective defense strategies.

Theft Crimes Under California Law

• Petty Theft (Penal Code Section 484/488) – According to California Legislative Information^[1], petty theft involves taking property valued at $950 or less with intent to permanently deprive the owner. This is a misdemeanor carrying up to 6 months in county jail.
• Grand Theft (Penal Code Section 487) – Taking property valued at more than $950, or specific property types (firearms, automobiles) regardless of value. Grand theft is a “wobbler” that can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, with felony convictions carrying 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail or state prison.
• Shoplifting (Penal Code Section 459.5) – Proposition 47 created a specific shoplifting offense for entering commercial establishments during business hours with intent to commit theft where the value doesn’t exceed $950. This is a misdemeanor carrying up to 6 months in jail.
• Burglary (Penal Code Section 459) – Entering any structure (residential or commercial) with intent to commit theft or any felony. First-degree burglary (residential) is always a felony carrying 2, 4, or 6 years in state prison. Second-degree burglary (commercial) is a wobbler carrying up to 1 year in county jail if charged as a misdemeanor, or 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years if charged as a felony.
• Robbery (Penal Code Section 211) – Taking personal property from another person’s possession or immediate presence, against their will, accomplished by force or fear. According to the California Courts^[2], robbery is always a felony and is classified as a violent crime and strike offense under California’s Three Strikes Law.
• First-degree robbery (residential robbery, taxi drivers, ATM users) carries 3, 4, or 6 years in state prison. Second-degree robbery carries 2, 3, or 5 years in state prison.
• Carjacking (Penal Code Section 215) – Taking a motor vehicle from another person’s immediate presence, against their will, by force or fear. This is always a felony carrying 3, 5, or 9 years in state prison, with significant enhancements for firearm use.
• Receiving Stolen Property (Penal Code Section 496) – Knowingly buying, receiving, concealing, or withholding property that has been stolen. This can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on property value and circumstances.
• Embezzlement (Penal Code Section 503) – Fraudulently appropriating property entrusted to you. Embezzlement is charged as petty theft (misdemeanor) or grand theft (felony) depending on property value.
• Identity Theft (Penal Code Section 530.5) – Willfully obtaining another person’s identifying information and using it for unlawful purposes. This wobbler offense carries up to 1 year in county jail for misdemeanors or 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years for felonies.

Robbery and Theft in Torrance

Torrance, located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County with a population exceeding 147,000 residents according to the U.S. Census Bureau^[3], experiences various types of property crimes throughout the city.

Common Locations for Property Crimes in Torrance

• Del Amo Fashion Center – This major shopping mall attracts shoplifters and organized retail theft rings. Loss prevention personnel at department stores, clothing retailers, and specialty shops make citizen’s arrests for shoplifting, with the Torrance Police Department^[4] responding to take formal custody.
• Retail Corridors – Shopping centers along Hawthorne Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard, Pacific Coast Highway, and Torrance Boulevard experience shoplifting, theft from stores, and employee theft.
• Residential Neighborhoods – Residential burglaries occur throughout Torrance’s neighborhoods, including North Torrance, Old Torrance, Walteria, Hollywood Riviera, and Seaside areas.
• Parking Lots and Garages – Theft from vehicles occurs in parking structures at shopping centers, apartment complexes, office buildings, and public parking areas throughout the city.
• Gas Stations and Convenience Stores – Robberies at gas stations and convenience stores occur on major thoroughfares throughout Torrance, particularly during late-night hours.
• Banks and Financial Institutions – While less frequent, bank robberies occur at financial institutions throughout Torrance.
• Businesses and Commercial Properties – Commercial burglaries target businesses after hours when premises are unoccupied.

According to the California Department of Justice^[5], property crimes including theft, burglary, and robbery represent a significant portion of criminal offenses throughout California, with thousands of arrests occurring annually in Los Angeles County.

Penalties for Robbery and Theft Convictions

Robbery and theft convictions carry penalties ranging from misdemeanor sentences to lengthy state prison terms, depending on offense severity and prior criminal history.

Misdemeanor Theft Penalties

Petty Theft and Shoplifting

• Up to 6 months in county jail
• Fines up to $1,000
• Summary probation (typically 1-3 years)
• Restitution to victims
• Community service
• Theft prevention classes

Misdemeanor Grand Theft

• Up to 1 year in county jail
• Fines up to $1,000
• Summary probation
• Restitution to victims

Felony Theft Penalties

Grand Theft

• 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail or state prison
• Fines up to $10,000
• Formal felony probation
• Restitution to victims

Second-Degree Burglary (Commercial)

• 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in county jail or state prison
• Fines up to $10,000
• Formal felony probation
• Restitution to victims

First-Degree Burglary (Residential)

• 2, 4, or 6 years in state prison
• Fines up to $10,000
• Strike offense under California’s Three Strikes Law
• 85% custody requirement (must serve 85% of sentence before parole eligibility)

Robbery Penalties

Second-Degree Robbery

• 2, 3, or 5 years in state prison
• Fines up to $10,000
• Strike offense under Three Strikes Law
• 85% custody requirement

First-Degree Robbery

• 3, 4, or 6 years in state prison
• Fines up to $10,000
• Strike offense
• 85% custody requirement

Enhancements – Robbery sentences can be dramatically increased by enhancements for:

• Use of firearms (additional 10 years for personal use, 20 years for discharge, 25 years to life for discharge causing great bodily injury)
• Great bodily injury to victims (additional 3-6 years)
• Gang participation (additional 2-10 years)
• Multiple victims

Collateral Consequences

Beyond direct criminal penalties, robbery and theft convictions create lasting consequences:

• Employment – Theft and robbery convictions, classified as crimes of moral turpitude involving dishonesty, severely damage employment prospects. Employers in retail, banking, financial services, healthcare, education, and positions involving trust refuse to hire individuals with theft or robbery convictions.
• Professional Licensing – State licensing boards may deny, suspend, or revoke professional licenses for doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, accountants, real estate agents, contractors, and other licensed professionals based on theft or robbery convictions.
• Housing – Landlords conduct background checks and frequently deny rental applications based on theft and robbery convictions. Public housing programs may exclude individuals with criminal records involving property crimes.
• Immigration – For non-citizens, theft and robbery convictions can constitute crimes involving moral turpitude or aggravated felonies under immigration law. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services^[6], these convictions can trigger deportation proceedings, denial of naturalization applications, and inadmissibility to the United States.
• Three Strikes Law – Robbery and residential burglary are “strike” offenses under California’s Three Strikes Law. A strike conviction doubles sentences for any future felony and results in 25 years to life for third strikes.
• Firearm Restrictions – Felony convictions prohibit firearm possession for life under California and federal law.

Defenses to Robbery and Theft Charges

Robbery and theft charges are defensible despite serious allegations. Common defense strategies include:

Lack of Intent to Permanently Deprive

Theft crimes require specific intent to permanently deprive owners of property. If you intended to borrow property temporarily or return it, you lack the intent required for conviction.

Common scenarios involving lack of intent:

• Taking property you believed belonged to you
• Borrowing items with intent to return them
• Mistakenly taking property you thought was yours
• Taking property to prevent damage or loss with intent to return it

We present evidence establishing lack of intent through testimony, circumstances, and patterns of behavior inconsistent with theft.

Claim of Right

If you genuinely believed you had a right to property—even if mistaken—you lacked the fraudulent intent required for theft. This defense applies when:

• You believed property belonged to you based on prior agreements
• You thought you had permission to take property
• You were settling debts or disputes you believed entitled you to property
• Legitimate ownership disputes existed

The belief must be honest and in good faith, even if ultimately incorrect.

Consent or Permission

If you had consent or permission to take property, there’s no theft. We establish consent through:

• Testimony from property owners
• Evidence of prior agreements or permissions
• Patterns of behavior showing implied consent
• Documentation supporting permission

False Accusations

False theft and robbery accusations occur frequently, motivated by:

• Personal vendettas or disputes
• Insurance fraud (claiming property was stolen when it wasn’t)
• Covering up one’s own misconduct
• Mistaken identity
• Misunderstandings about circumstances

We expose false accusations through:

• Inconsistencies in accusers’ statements
• Evidence of motives to fabricate
• Alibi evidence proving you were elsewhere
• Surveillance footage contradicting allegations
• Witness testimony supporting your innocence

Mistaken Identity

Theft and robbery cases often involve mistaken identification:

• Witness identifications are notoriously unreliable, particularly during stressful events like robberies
• Security footage may be poor quality or inconclusive
• Physical descriptions may be vague or match many people
• Suggestion by police during identification procedures

We challenge identifications through:

• Cross-examination exposing witness uncertainty
• Expert testimony on eyewitness identification reliability
• Alibi evidence
• Evidence the actual perpetrator was someone else

Lack of Force or Fear (Robbery Defense)

Robbery requires taking property by force or fear. If no force or fear was involved, robbery charges should be reduced to theft. We demonstrate:

• Property was taken without confrontation
• Alleged victims didn’t feel threatened
• No force was used or threatened
• Taking occurred through stealth rather than force

Illegal Search and Seizure

If law enforcement obtained evidence through illegal searches violating Fourth Amendment rights, evidence must be suppressed. Common violations include:

• Searches without warrants, consent, or probable cause
• Vehicle searches exceeding permissible scope
• Detention without reasonable suspicion
• Coerced consent to searches

Suppressing evidence often results in case dismissal when stolen property or other critical evidence is excluded.

Insufficient Evidence

Prosecutors must prove robbery and theft beyond a reasonable doubt. We identify evidentiary weaknesses including:

• Lack of proof you took property
• Inability to prove property value (critical for grand theft charges)
• Absence of witnesses
• Unreliable surveillance footage
• Gaps in the prosecution’s case creating reasonable doubt

Mistake of Fact

Sometimes defendants take property based on honest mistakes about ownership, permission, or circumstances. These mistakes negate criminal intent required for conviction.

Duress or Necessity

In rare circumstances, defendants commit theft or robbery under duress (threats from others) or necessity (emergency situations requiring property to prevent greater harm). These defenses require showing:

• Immediate threats or emergencies
• No reasonable alternatives
• Property taken was necessary to address threats or emergencies

Violation of Miranda Rights

If you made incriminating statements during custodial interrogation without Miranda warnings, those statements are inadmissible. Many theft and robbery cases rely on defendants’ admissions, so excluding statements can eliminate critical prosecution evidence.

The Criminal Process for Robbery and Theft Cases in Torrance

Arrest and Investigation

Robbery and theft arrests occur through various means:

Caught in the Act – Police or loss prevention personnel catch defendants during commission of offenses.

Investigation – For robberies, burglaries, and major thefts, detectives investigate by:

• Collecting evidence from crime scenes
• Reviewing surveillance footage
• Interviewing witnesses and victims
• Identifying suspects through evidence
• Obtaining arrest warrants

Loss Prevention Detainment – For shoplifting, store loss prevention officers conduct citizen’s arrests, detaining suspects until police arrive.

Booking

Following arrest, you’re transported to Torrance Police Department or Los Angeles County jail facilities for booking. Bail for robbery and theft charges varies:

• Shoplifting/petty theft: $1,000-$5,000
• Grand theft: $5,000-$20,000
• Burglary: $20,000-$50,000
• Robbery: $50,000-$150,000 or higher

Arraignment

First court appearances occur at the Torrance Courthouse. At arraignment:

• You’re formally advised of charges
• You enter a plea (not guilty)
• Bail is reviewed and set
• Future court dates are scheduled

We strongly recommend having an attorney at arraignment to argue for bail reduction and begin building defenses immediately.

Preliminary Hearing

For felony charges, preliminary hearings determine whether sufficient probable cause exists to proceed to trial. These critical hearings allow us to:

• Cross-examine prosecution witnesses
• Challenge sufficiency of evidence
• Establish weaknesses in prosecution cases
• Sometimes achieve dismissals or charge reductions

Pretrial Proceedings

Most robbery and theft cases resolve during pretrial proceedings through dismissals, negotiations, or plea agreements.

Discovery – We obtain evidence from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office^[7] including:

• Police reports and investigation records
• Surveillance footage
• Witness statements
• Physical evidence documentation
• Expert reports

Motion Practice – We file motions to:

• Suppress illegally obtained evidence
• Dismiss charges based on insufficient evidence
• Exclude unreliable identification evidence
• Challenge search and seizure legality

Negotiations – We negotiate with prosecutors seeking:

• Dismissals when evidence is weak
• Charge reductions from felonies to misdemeanors
• Reductions from robbery to theft
• Reductions from grand theft to petty theft
• Alternative sentencing options including diversion

Trial

If cases proceed to trial, we provide aggressive representation:

• Jury selection
• Opening statements
• Cross-examination of prosecution witnesses
• Presentation of defense evidence and witnesses
• Expert testimony when appropriate
• Closing arguments emphasizing reasonable doubt

Sentencing

If convictions occur, we present mitigation evidence to minimize penalties:

• Lack of criminal history
• Evidence of good character
• Employment and community ties
• Restitution payments to victims
• Completion of theft prevention classes before sentencing
• Evidence of rehabilitation

Diversion Programs and Alternative Resolutions

Pretrial Diversion

First-time theft offenders may qualify for pretrial diversion where:

• Criminal proceedings are suspended
• Defendants complete theft prevention classes, community service, and restitution
• Cases are dismissed upon successful completion

Diversion eligibility depends on offense severity, criminal history, and prosecutorial discretion.

Civil Compromise

For certain property crimes, we negotiate civil compromises under Penal Code Section 1377 where:

• Defendants compensate victims for losses
• Victims request case dismissal
• Courts dismiss criminal charges

Civil compromise is available for some misdemeanor theft offenses but not for robbery or violent crimes.

Charge Reductions

When dismissals aren’t achievable, we negotiate charge reductions to:

• Misdemeanor offenses from felonies
• Petty theft from grand theft
• Non-strike offenses from strike offenses
• Alternative charges with reduced consequences

Proposition 47 and Theft Crime Reform

California’s Proposition 47, passed in 2014, reformed theft crime sentencing by:

• Reclassifying many theft offenses as misdemeanors
• Establishing the $950 threshold for petty vs. grand theft
• Creating the specific shoplifting offense
• Allowing individuals with prior felony theft convictions to petition for resentencing

According to the California Courts Prop 47 Information^[8], Proposition 47 significantly reduced penalties for non-violent property crimes while maintaining serious consequences for robbery, burglary, and theft with aggravating factors.

Special Considerations

Organized Retail Theft

Organized retail theft involves groups working together to steal merchandise for resale. Enhanced penalties apply for:

• Acting in concert with others
• Theft of multiple items
• Crossing county lines
• Receiving or selling stolen property

Employee Theft and Embezzlement

Employee theft cases involve unique considerations:

• Employment relationships creating positions of trust
• Complex financial records and accounting
• Civil restitution demands from employers
• Potential for negotiated resolutions avoiding prosecution

Immigration Consequences

For non-citizen defendants, theft and robbery convictions have serious immigration implications:

• Crimes involving moral turpitude can trigger deportation
• Aggravated felony convictions result in mandatory deportation
• Theft convictions affect naturalization applications

We coordinate robbery and theft defense with immigration counsel to minimize immigration consequences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Tu Defensor Criminalista Today

If you’ve been arrested or charged with robbery, theft, burglary, shoplifting, or any property crime in Torrance, California, your freedom, your record, and your future are at stake. These charges carry serious penalties ranging from jail time to lengthy prison sentences, along with lifelong consequences affecting employment, housing, and opportunities.

At Tu Defensor Criminalista, we provide aggressive, strategic legal representation for robbery and theft charges throughout Torrance and Los Angeles County. We understand that property crime allegations often arise from mistakes, misunderstandings, false accusations, or difficult circumstances. We fight tirelessly to protect your rights, challenge unjust accusations, and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Don’t face robbery and theft charges alone. Don’t assume charges will automatically result in conviction. Don’t let these allegations destroy your future. Contact us immediately for experienced legal representation that can make the difference between conviction and a better outcome.

Contact Information

We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide the immediate assistance you need. Call now for a confidential consultation to discuss your case, explore your options, and begin building your defense. Your freedom and your future are too important to leave to chance.

Citations and Sources

Throughout this content, we have referenced statistics, facts, and information from authoritative sources to provide accurate, reliable information about robbery and theft laws, enforcement, and criminal justice in Torrance and California.

Below is a complete list of sources cited in this content:

1. California Legislative Information – California Penal Code sections related to robbery, theft, burglary, and property crimes
   https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/^[1]
2. California Courts – Information about criminal procedures and property crime laws
   https://www.courts.ca.gov/^[2]
3. U.S. Census Bureau – Population and demographic data for Torrance, California
   https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/torrancecitycalifornia^[3]
4. Torrance Police Department – Local law enforcement and crime response
   https://www.torranceca.gov/our-city/police-department^[4]
5. California Department of Justice – Crime statistics and property crime data
   https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/^[5]
6. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – Immigration consequences of criminal convictions
   https://www.uscis.gov/^[6]
7. Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office – Prosecution information and policies
   https://da.lacounty.gov/^[7]
8. California Courts – Proposition 47 Information – Prop 47 reforms and impact on theft crimes
   https://www.courts.ca.gov/prop47.htm^[8]