Property Crimes

Property crimes are generally defined as an intentional criminal act that results in the taking or destruction of another person’s property without the owner’s consent. Property crimes can include both misdemeanor and felony offense.

Property crimes are usually distinguished from violent crimes that involve the a threat of force or actual force in order to accomplish the taking of property. The most common type of property crimes involving violence include robbery.

In Florida, the most common types of property crimes in Florida include theft, fraud, criminal mischief, burglary, and arson.

Attorneys for Property Crimes in Tampa, FL

The criminal defense attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm, P.A., represent clients through the greater Tampa Bay area for a variety of criminal offenses that are classified as “property crimes.”

Before you speak with any law enforcement officer about the allegations against you, call us to speak to an attorney about the specific facts and circumstances of your case.

Our offices are located in downtown Tampa, just a few blocks from the courthouse. We represent clients charged with property crimes in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida and the surrounding areas of New Port Richey and Dade City in Pasco County, Brooksville in Hernando County, and Clearwater and St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, FL.

Call (813) 250-0500 today.


Different Types of Property Crimes in Florida

The severity of the offense depends on the value of the property taken or damaged. Finding the proper valuation of the property is often an important part of the defense.

Types of property crimes commonly prosecuted in Florida including the following:

Property crimes are defined as criminal acts that occur when a person takes another person’s property without consent. When a person destroys another person’s property, it is also considered a property crime under Florida law.


Related Links for Property Crime Statistics

  • FBI’s Property Crime Statistics in the UCR Program – The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program shows crime statistics for property crimes including larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, burglary, and arson. Website includes crime statistics compiled by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Find graphs and figures showing a five-year trend from 2006-2010 which shows the estimated number of offenses over the last five years.
  • National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) – published by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The NCVS shows crime statistics for certain property crimes including theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. These crime statistics are based on surveys of a sample of households. Therefore, the property crime statistics do not include crimes against businesses. The benefit of the household survey method for measuring property crimes includes a measurement of crimes against household members by other family members or friends even when those crimes are not reported to law enforcement. Any property crimes reported to law enforcement are also included in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports (UCR).
  • Florida’s Property Crime at a Glance – Visit the website for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to find information on property crime in Florida from 1994 through 2014. The site shows the percent change in number and rate over the last ten (10) years. View a graph showing the number of offenses against the rate per 100,000. Property crimes included in the study include motor vehicle theft, larceny, and burglary. The statistics show a significant drop in both the number and rate of report property offenses over the past ten (10) years. SOURCE: Florida Statistical Analysis Center: FDLE (1994-2014). Crime in Florida, Florida uniform crime report [Computer program].

Finding an Attorney for Property Crimes in Florida

Contact the criminal defense attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm if you have been charged with a property crime in the Tampa Bay area including Tampa or Plant City in Hillsborough County, St. Petersburg or Clearwater in Pinellas County, New Port Richey or Dade City in Pasco County, Brooksville in Hernando County, Florida.

The attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm represent clients charged with a wide variety of felony and misdemeanor property crimes including burglary, theft, larceny, and dealing in stolen property.

Contact us to find out how we aggressively fight these charges. Call (813) 250-0500.


Last updated by on Tuesday, July 24, 2018.