On Friday, November 9th, 2012, police received at least eight calls from residents of the Avalon apartments right off Route 3A in Cohasset, MA, reporting that they had become of the victim of a vehicle break-in and theft between the hours of midnight and 8am. In almost every case, the victim's vehicle had been left unlocked.
Victims reported the theft of items including:
- Wallets
- Money
- Credit cards
- Electronic devices
- GPS devices
Although police are continuing to investigate, Deputy Police Chief William Quigley warned that these were crimes of opportunity and strongly urged the public to keep their vehicles locked and alarms set.
While many breaking and entering, or theft, charges are considered to be misdemeanors, there are certain circumstances that would warrant a felony charge. For example, if the defendant broke into a building, or in this case a vehicle, with the intent to commit a felony charge, he/she would be facing charges for the breaking and entering, as well as the felony offense.
Theft of less than $250 worth of property is considered to be a petty theft and is a misdemeanor in the state of Massachusetts. Theft of property worth more than $250 is considered to be grand theft and is a felony. Intent goes a long way in determining whether charges will be classified as misdemeanors or felonies.
That is why it is extremely important if you or a loved one has been arrested for theft, or any other criminal offense in Quincy, MA, you consult with an experienced Quincy criminal defense lawyer from my firm right away. Even if witnesses identify you as the perpetrator, or a camera apparently recorded the crime in action, do not admit guilt or allow yourself to be intimidated into giving a confession. When you contact my firm, I will be able to review the circumstances of your arrest, evaluate the evidence against you, answer any questions you may have, and advise you on how to proceed. Even if you are simply under investigation, I urge you to contact me as soon as possible so I can provide you with the effective representation you deserve.
Contact a criminal defense attorney at Flanagan & Associates to schedule your confidential consultation today.