Theft Crimes in Pasco County, FL
What happens after an arrest for a theft crime in Pasco County, FL? Most misdemeanor arrests involve petit theft, usually from a retail store. Petit theft can be charged as a first or second degree misdemeanor depending on the value of the property, the type of property, or the manner in which it was stolen. If the stolen property is valued at $750 or more, then the crime can be charged as grand theft.
The most commonly prosecuted types of theft crimes include petit theft, retail theft (shoplifting), grand theft, embezzlement, larceny, and scheme to defraud.
A person commits theft if they knowingly obtain or use, or endeavor to obtain or use, the property of another with intent to, either temporarily or permanently:
- Deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property; or
- Appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to the use of the property.
Law enforcement officers in Pasco County, FL, aggressively pursue felony and misdemeanor theft charges. Law enforcement agencies involved with investigating theft crimes in this county include:
- Pasco County Sheriff’s Office;
- Zephyrhills Police Department;
- Port Richey Police Department;
- New Port Richey Police Department; and
- Dade City Police Department.
For an accusation of petit theft, the law enforcement officer might release the person at the scene after issuing a notice to appear in court or formally arrested the person and take them to the jail for booking.
Attorneys for Theft Crimes in Pasco County, FL
Whether you were served with a notice to appear in court or formally arrested, the State Attorney’s Office at the courthouse in New Port Richey and Dade City, FL, aggressively prosecutes theft crimes.
You need an experienced criminal defense attorney who can aggressively defend you against the accusation and make sure your rights are protected at every stage of the case.
If you are under investigation or charged with a theft crime, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm.
We fight a wide variety of property crimes in Pasco County, FL, including grand theft, scheme to defraud, retail theft, and petit theft.
Our main offices are located in Tampa, FL. Our second office is conveniently located in New Port Richey in Pasco County, across from the courthouse at the West Pasco Judicial Center.
Contact us to find out about your charges, potential defense, and the best ways to fight the case.
Call (813) 250-0500 today.
Penalties for Theft Crimes in Florida
In 2022, the Florida Legislature amended the retail theft statute, Section 812.015 expanding the timeframe that retail theft offenses may be grouped together or aggregated) to reach felony threshold amounts. In 2024, the Florida Legislature amended Section 812.014 lowering the felony threshold amount from $100 to $40 for thefts where the property stolen was taken from a dwelling or unenclosed curtilage of a dwelling.
Under Section 812.014, F.S., theft crimes can be classified as either a felony or misdemeanor. The way the crime is classified might depend on several different factors including:
- the value of the property stolen;
- the offender’s history of theft convictions; or
- the type of property taken.
The thresholds for classifying theft crimes depending on the value of the property include:
|
Property Value |
Offense Level |
|
| Grand Theft |
≥ $100,000 |
First Degree Felony |
|
≥ $20,000, but < $100,000 |
Second Degree Felony |
|
|
≥ $10,000, but < $20,000 |
Third Degree Felony |
|
|
≥ $5,000, but < $10,000 |
Third Degree Felony |
|
|
≥ $750, but < $5,000 |
Third Degree Felony |
|
| ≥ $100, but < $750 if taken from a dwelling or unenclosed curtilage63 of a dwelling | Third Degree Felony | |
| Petit Theft |
≥ $100, but < $750 |
First Degree Misdemeanor |
|
< $100 |
Second Degree Misdemeanor |
Reclassification of Theft Crimes Based on Prior Convictions
Florida’s theft statute in Section 812.014, F.S., increases and reclassifies the severity of a petit theft offense if a person has one or more prior convictions including:
- A person who has previously been convicted of any theft, who commits petit theft, commits a first degree misdemeanor as provided in Section 812.014(3)(b), F.S.; and
- A person who has been previously convicted of theft two or more times, who commits a petit theft, commits a third-degree felony as provided in Section 812.014(3)(c), F.S.
Created in 2001, Florida law provides for certain thresholds for third-degree felony retail theft. The crime of retail theft or shoplifting is charged as a third-degree felony if the property that was stolen is valued at $750 or more, and the person:
- individually, or with one or more other persons, coordinates the activities of one or more individuals in committing the offense, in which case the amount of each individual theft is aggregated to determine the value of the property stolen;
- commits theft from more than one location within a 48-hour period, in which case the amount of each individual theft is aggregated to determine the value of the property stolen;
- acts in concert with one or more other individuals within one or more establishments to distract the merchant, merchant’s employee, or law enforcement officer in order to carry out the offense, or acts in other ways to coordinate efforts to carry out the offense; or
- commits the offense through the purchase of merchandise in a package or box that contains merchandise other than, or in addition to, the merchandise purported to be contained in the package or box.
Retail theft is charged as a second-degree felony when:
- A person has previously been convicted of third-degree felony retail theft; or
- Individually, or in concert with one or more other persons, coordinates the activities of one or more persons in committing the offense of retail theft where the stolen property has a value in excess of $3,000.
Retail Theft and Shoplifting Crimes in Pasco County, FL
Under Florida law, a person commits retail theft when he or she, with the intent to deprive a merchant of the possession, use, benefit, or full retail value of the property, by doing any of the following:
- taking possession of or carrying away merchandise, property, money or negotiable documents;
- altering or removing a label, universal product code, or price tag;
- transferring merchandise from one container to another; or
- removing a shopping cart, with intent to deprive the merchant of the possession, use, benefit, or full retail value.
Theft crimes are common at the biggest retail establishments in Pasco County, FL, including:
- Grove at Wesley Chapel;
- The Shops at Wiregrass;
- Shoppes at Sunlake Centre; and
- Northgate Square;
- Cypress Creek;
- Tampa Premium Outlets.
Retail theft in Pasco County, FL, can also occur at stores like Walmart and Target, Home Depot or Lowe’s, a pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS, or even the grocery store like Publix.
What is the Difference Between Petit Theft and Grand Theft in Florida
Section 812.014, Florida Statutes, defines the following two general theft offense categories:
- Petit thefts: Misdemeanor offenses that are punishable by a term of imprisonment in a county correctional facility, such as a jail, up to 12 months in jail.
- Grand thefts: Felony offenses that are punishable by imprisonment in state correctional facilities for a sentence that exceeds one year.
Theft Classification – Florida (s. 812.014, F.S.)
- A will, codicil, or other testamentary instrument
- A firearm
- A motor vehicle
- Any commercially farmed animal
- A fire extinguisher installed in any building
- 2,000 or more individual pieces of citrus fruit
- Property taken from a designated construction site
- Any stop sign
- Anhydrous ammonia
- A controlled substance
- Property stolen during a riot or state of emergency
- Property valued at $40 or more taken from a dwelling or unenclosed curtilage
Note 1: This chart does not include offense degrees. Criteria effective October 1, 2024.
Note 2: “Unenclosed curtilage” means unenclosed land or grounds directly and intimately adjacent to a dwelling and habitually used in connection with it.
This article was last updated on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
