The 2022 crime rate in Fort Worth, Texas, was 1.2 times higher than the U.S. average, and Tarrant County has earned a D+ “crime grade” for theft.

That’s no surprise. The most common criminal charge in Texas in 2022 was larceny/theft, making it a statewide problem. Even Sheriff’s Department employees can be accused of theft.

Theft charges can leave you facing embarrassment and social stigma that can be difficult to overcome, because you’re taking something from someone else. Theft covers a range of offenses, from petty theft to auto theft, and incidents can involve grocery stores, retailers, an individual, a private company, corporations, your employer, or a charity.

Tarrant County’s theft rate averages around 19.91 per 1,000 residents per year.

And with shoplifting on the upswing, prosecution for shoplifters is surging after retailers faced $112 billion in losses in 2022. Even age is not a deterrent. In Tarrant County, at least a quarter of kids accused of nonviolent crimes such as theft were sent to prison, county data shows. More than half of the kids detained in 2021 were Black. 

Clearly, any type of theft charge in Tarrant County is serious. Don’t leave your fate (or your child’s fate) in the hands of an overworked public defender. You need an experienced attorney in your corner. 

Types of Theft Crimes in Fort Worth, Texas

Common examples of theft crimes under Texas law include:

Theft of services: Texas Penal Code Under §31.04 establishes this as use of services (for example, an Uber ride or utilities) without planning to pay for them.

Theft by check: Intentionally writing a check with insufficient funds to deceive the recipient. There were 90 theft by check cases in Tarrant County in 2023.

Identity theft: The use of another person’s personal ID or data without their consent.

Mail theft: Taking someone else’s mail without the addressee’s consent and with the intent to deprive that addressee of the contents of that mail.

Credit card theft: Using someone else’s credit card without their knowledge or authorization.

Petty theft: This involves theft of low-value items, typically valued at less than $100.

Shoplifting: Taking items from a retail establishment as established under Texas Penal Code § 31.03.

Embezzlement: Misappropriating money or property that has been entrusted to you.

Robbery: These are more serious charges than average theft charges because – in addition to taking something that belongs to someone else – they involve an element of violence.

Auto theft: This involves stealing a motor vehicle. In 2023, 1,000 people were charged with auto theft in Tarrant County.

Burglary: This is technically a separate charge from theft. Burglary is entering a structure with the intent of committing a crime. However, any items taken during a burglary are considered theft.

Theft Crime Penalties in Texas

Theft crimes are punished based on the value of the property taken.

Amount	Classification	Penalty
Less than $100	Class C misdemeanor	Up to a $500 fine
More than $100 but less than $750	Class B misdemeanor	Up to 180 days in county jail; fine of up to $2,000
$750 or more, but less than $2,500	Class A misdemeanor	Up to a year in county jail;Fine of up to $4,000
$2,500 or more, but less than $30,000	State jail felony	Between six months to two years in state jail; Fine of up to $10,000
$30,000 or more, but less than $150,000	Third-degree felony	Between two to ten years in prison; Fine of up to $10,000
$150,000 to $300,000	Second-degree felony	Between two and 20 years in prison; Fine of up to $10,000
$300,000 or more	First-degree felony	Between five to 99 years in prison; Fine of up to $10,000

How Prior Convictions Affect Theft Charges

It’s important to note that you’ve been convicted of theft before, a prior conviction will be used to enhance another theft in the future. In other words, a Theft of Metals charge that is ordinarily a state jail felony can be enhanced to a third-degree felony by putting the prior conviction on the indictment.

Types of Theft Crimes in Fort Worth

Theft was one of the most common charges in Fort Worth in 2023:

Source: https://courtsdata.traviscountytx.gov/CriminalAnalytics/

Statistics: Theft Crimes in Texas

Source: Texas DPS 2022 Texas Crime Report

Factors Influencing a Theft Charge in Fort Worth

You’re likely to face harsher penalties if you’re accused of taking expensive items or you have prior convictions on your record. Key factors include:

• The property’s value: The value of the item will determine the charge you’ll face
• Circumstances of possession: How the item ended up in your possession can escalate the charges against you. For example, if violence is involved, the the charges will be more severe.
• Prior convictions: If you have a criminal record, you’ll probably face harsher penalties – particularly if your convictions are related to theft or fraud
• Intent and knowledge: If there is evidence that you intended to profit in any way from the stolen property, it will likely affect the charges you face

Have You Been Accused of Shoplifting in Fort Worth?

Don’t attempt to handle shoplifting charges on your own: Prosecutors must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you intended to steal any items found in your possession. 

Store security and staff members are not police officers. They work for the accuser. That means their reports are often one-sided and aren’t backed up by facts. And it’s possible that you were racially profiled.

• Ask for a witness: Ensure that a store employee or manager is present. Keep a record of their names and positions.
• Cooperate with store security: Remain calm if store security or a loss prevention officer confronts you. Don’t attempt to flee. If police are called, you may face extra charges if it seems like you’re resisting arrest.
• Don’t sign any documents without reading them: Most stores require employees to to write an incident report. Review it carefully. Don’t agree to sign it unless all of the information is 100% correct.
• Call us immediately: We can start working on your defense. We are available 24/7 and are here to help clients in North Texas. This also includes Dallas, Ellis, and Collin counties.

We will review security camera footage, carefully go over the incident reports, and interview any potential witnesses.

Remember that aside from police officers, nobody has the legal authority to search your bags without your consent. This includes store employees and loss prevention officers. It is your right to refuse, and you should. Consenting to a search will not help your case.

How to Get Theft Charges Dropped in Dallas, Texas

We will carefully review the allegations against you, but some common defenses include:

• Racial profiling: We will investigate whether you were unfairly watched, detained, or questioned.
• Mistake of fact: If you were unaware that you hadn’t paid for an item, this could be a viable defense.
• Lack of intent: We can work to show that you did not intend to steal the item – for example, if you were distracted by a phone call or text and inadvertently carried an item out of the store.
• Coerced confession: If a confession was obtained under coercion or distress, we may be able to challenge it. If the challenge is successful, your confession won’t be admissible in court.
• Insufficient evidence: If prosecutors are unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt  that you shoplifted the item, we will challenge the evidence against you.
• Entrapment: If store personnel or law enforcement coerced you into committing a crime (that you would not have otherwise committed), we will use this as a defense. 
• Age: We will do everything within our power to keep minors out of juvenile facilities.

We Can Help

We have attorneys across Texas, including Tarrant County.  We know the prosecutors and judges in many of the surrounding areas, and will fight to get you the best possible outcome. Our No. 1 goal is a dismissal. If that’s not possible, we will do everything within our power to get the charges against you reduced. 

We serve clients across Texas, including Arlington, Azle, Bedford, Benbrook, Burleson, Colleyville, Crowley, Euless, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Haltom City, Hurst, Keller, Lake Worth, Mansfield, McKinney, North Richland Hills, Plano, Richardson, Saginaw, Southlake, and White Settlement.