What is petty theft in California?
• Under California law, petty theft is defined as the act of stealing goods valued at less than $400. • This is most common in the charge of shoplifting, when an individual does not pay the asking price for merchandise by either walking out of the store without paying for the item or switching price tags, or other type of deceitful acts. • If the stolen goods are valued under $50, the charge may be reduced to an infraction and the defendant may be able to avoid a criminal record. • Grand theft is a different type of theft than petty theft and involves the theft of goods valued at over $400. These goods are often automobiles or other expensive items such as electronics, stereos, televisions, etc.
