Dogs Worth Thousands of Dollars Stolen From Georgia Pet Store

Dekalb County police are searching for two suspects that have been accused of breaking into a pet store this past week.

The burglary resulted in five puppies being stolen. According to the pet store, the puppies are worth upwards of $15,000. The suspects allegedly used a rock to break into the glass door of the pet store.

This is not the first time that expensive dogs have been stolen from this particular store. And as of right now, no other details have been provided to news outlets. However, as a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, it is safe for me to assume that one of the offenses faced by the two alleged suspects is theft by taking in the state of Georgia. I will outline the law behind this offense below.

Theft by Taking in Georgia

Theft by Taking in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. §16-8-2 as:

When a person unlawfully takes or, being in lawful possession thereof, unlawfully appropriates any property of another with the intention of depriving him of the property, regardless of the manner in which property is taken or appropriated. 

Therefore the theft crime can either be a misdemeanor or felony in Georgia.

When the theft involves property valued at $500 or less, then the crime will be deemed a misdemeanor in Georgia. The consequences of a misdemeanor include a fine of no more than $1,000 and a jail sentence of no more than 12 months.

When the theft involves property valued at more than $500, the crime will more than likely be deemed a felony. The consequences of a felony include a prison sentence of no less than one year and no more than ten years.

Practice Note

There are a variety of theft crimes in the state of Georgia. Each has its differences according to law. However, they are all handled similarly when it comes to penalties for conviction.

If you or a loved one has been accused of committing a theft in the state of Georgia, call us today. We can help you now.