A False Sense of Entitlement
Posted By Attorney Shawn Curry on Mar 12, 2010 11:24am PST
Due to the difficult economic times, it is easy for people to feel overworked and underpaid. Many people may feel that Big Business is taking advantage of the working class -- the rich are getting richer; the poor, poorer; and, the middle further skewed.
As a result of feeling undercompensated and unappreciated, it is easy to feel that rewarding oneself with some small "token" of appreciation -- free food or unused gift card -- is well-deserved and too little to be noticed. Unfortunately, it is this sense of entitlement that the law says is both false and criminal.
Under Pennsylvania law, the actions described above would be recognized as Theft By Unlawful Taking, which makes it unlawful to take the property of another with the intent to deprive the property owner of its use. Essentially, whenever you take an item from your employer or place of business, they are deprived of its use.
The penalties for the criminal charge of Theft by Unlawful Taking are dependent on the value of the property taken. With the right Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorney, even a person actually guilty of the crime, may be able to minimize the penalties they face. Separately, depending on the facts in any given case, an experienced and knowledgable attorney may be able to build a defense in order to fight your case.
If you or someone you know has been charged with theft or any criminal offense, contact Criminal Defense Attorney Shawn M. Curry for a free consultation by phone at 1-800-615-0115. If an in-office appointment is necessary, Mr. Curry can accommodate you with offices in Dillsburg, Harrisburg, or York, PA.