Theft & Property Crimes

Defense of Theft Crimes

Shoplifting ∙ Car Theft ∙ Burglary ∙ Possession of Stolen Property

To successfully convict someone of any crime, the prosecutor must prove each individual "piece" of the crime's "puzzle."

As a basic example, the crime of theft happens when someone takes the property of another person without permission of the owner, with the intent to deprive the owner of possession.

To prove the crime of theft, the prosecutor has to prove that the defendant (and not another person, for example) took property that didn't belong to him (as opposed to taking back property that did belong to him). The prosecutor must also prove that the defendant did not have the owner's permission and intended to deprive the owner of possession (and wasn't just borrowing it, for example).

If the prosecutor cannot prove every "piece" of the crime, then the defendant cannot be convicted for that crime.

Theft crimes — even based on seemingly simple events like shoplifting or car theft — often include a lot of complicated pieces that the prosecutor must prove. My job as a criminal defense attorney is to show that the prosecutor’s puzzle isn’t complete.

Peter Ellenson, Criminal Defense Attorney
Oakland County, Michigan ∙ Detroit Metro Area
248-691-9020 ∙ E-Mail

In my 15 years working in the Detroit area as a private criminal defense attorney, I have gained a reputation as a thoughtful and thorough defense lawyer who commits himself 110 percent to each client's defense.

I build a defense based on two simultaneous strategies: I carefully examine the facts and witnesses, looking for weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case; also, I develop legal theories and arguments to protect my client’s freedoms.

I do this for all my cases, and I have handled a lot of property crime and theft defenses over the years. My goal is to protect my clients' rights and preserve their freedom — using every tool at my disposal.

Not-Guilty Verdict: Theft Charge

Sometimes, even when the prosecutor seems to have all the pieces of his puzzle, a Not Guilty verdict is still possible. I will use the trial to let the jury know every side to the story, then the jury can decide if the case has truly been proven.

The prosecutor charged my client with larceny (theft) following a fight in a motel room. We were unable to negotiate a fair plea bargain, and so my client and I went to trial. The prosecutor presented evidence that my client beat a guy up and stole his wallet. The police even found the "victim's" drivers license in my client's pocket.

I called as a witness every person who had been in the motel room, even though they all blamed my client. Each witness came across as arrogant and thuggish. They tried to cover up unpleasant truths — such as their illegal drug use at the motel — but these facts were revealed through cross-examination. Meanwhile, my client spent the entire trial looking serious and depressed about the whole course of events.

The jury issued a Not Guilty verdict. When asked, jurors explained that the witnesses acted so negatively and inappropriate — compared to my client who showed an appropriate attitude — that the jurors simply refused to accept the prosecution's version of the story.

Read more about past cases I've handled on the Representative Cases page of this Web site.

Get Help From an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

If you have been arrested for a property crime or theft, get an advocate on your side who can fight back — aggressively, intelligently and immediately. You need a smart and experienced criminal defense attorney on your side as soon as possible, to speak for you and build your defense.

Call 248-691-9020 anytime or send me an e-mail for a prompt response.