What is Larceny?
Larceny is a type of property crime that involves taking someone else’s property with the intent to permanently deprive them of the property. In South Carolina, larceny may be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the nature of the crime.
How is larceny different from burglary and robbery? What are the penalties for a conviction? Here’s what you need to know about larceny in South Carolina.
Is Larceny the Same as Burglary and Robbery?
First, it’s important to understand just what larceny is. The crimes of larceny, burglary, and robbery are similar, but they are not the same.
Burglary is the unlawful entry into a building with the intent to commit a crime, often theft. A person may be guilty of burglary even if they don’t succeed in stealing anything.
Robbery is a property crime that involves the use of force or threats to take property from another person.
Larceny is different from burglary and robbery because while the charge does require depriving someone of their property, it does not involve the use of force or threats (like robbery) or entering a building without consent (like burglary). For these reasons, larceny is usually a lesser crime compared to burglary and robbery, with less severe penalties.
What Are Penalties for a Conviction of Larceny in South Carolina?
Penalties for a conviction of larceny in South Carolina depend on the type of larceny. According to South Carolina Code 16-13-30:
Petit larceny involves the larceny of goods and other types of property of a value of $2,000 or less. The crime of petit larceny is a misdemeanor that may usually be tried in the magistrates court or municipal court. The penalty upon conviction is a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days.
Grand larceny involves the larceny of goods and other types of property in excess of $2,000. Conviction of grand larceny is a felony and carries a penalty of a fine at the discretion of the court or
– Not more than 5 years for property valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000; or
– Not more than 10 years for property valued at $10,000 or more
Call the Criminal Defense Attorneys at The Carolina Law Group
Larceny is a serious crime that can lead to up to 10 years in prison. If you have been charged with the crime of larceny in Upstate South Carolina, call the criminal defense attorneys at The Carolina Law Group. We will fight for your rights and work with prosecutors when possible to come to an arrangement that’s beneficial for all parties. Call one of the numbers below to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.
The Carolina Law Group has four offices in South Carolina for your convenience: Greenville (principal office; call 864.312.4444), Greer (principal office; call 864.757.5555), Spartanburg (principal office; call 864.312.4444) & West Columbia (principal office; call 803.881.1110).
Call us at one of our four offices or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys. Our business hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5:30pm & Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm. Weekend and evening hours by appointment only. Our Greenville, SC law firm offers Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati language translation services for your convenience.