Allegations of theft-related or fraud-related offences can arise in many circumstances. A person may find apparently lost or abandoned property. A person may also innocently come into possession of property that had been stolen from its lawful owner. Sometimes, a person is compelled by mental health issues like kleptomania to take property without paying for it. In other cases, a person’s addiction to alcohol or serious drugs leads them to steal from strangers, friends, or even family.
The Criminal Code contains numerous provisions that prohibit acts of theft or fraud.
- It is an offence – called theft – to fraudulently deprive someone of their property. The Criminal Code distinguishes between property that is less than or more than $5,000.00.
- It is an offence – called robbery – to use or threaten to use violence in order to steal something.
- It is an offence – called extortion – to use threats, accusations, menaces, or violence in order to induce another person to do anything with the intent to obtain anything.
- It is an offence to break and enter into a place for the purpose of committing an offence. It is also an offence to possess the instruments for breaking and entering into a place.
- It is an offence to possess or traffic in property obtained by crime.
- It is an offence – called fraud – to deprive someone of something through a falsehood.
- It is an offence to steal a credit card, forge or falsify a credit card, or possess a stolen or forged credit card. It is also an offence to possess the instruments for making forged credit cards.
Theft and fraud offences range from minor allegations of shoplifting to serious allegations like breaches of trust or armed home invasions. Our lawyers are available to advise and represent people being investigated or charged with any theft or fraud offence.