Going to court over a property which involves dishonesty – such as larceny, theft or stealing – can be a stressful and daunting experience.
You may be uncertain as to how you should plead, what will happen in court, whether you can have the charges dropped at an early stage or thrown out of court, and even whether you will get a criminal record that can impact on your career and future generally.
But it's important to be aware that for these offences to be established, the prosecution will need to prove several ‘essential elements', or ingredients, beyond a reasonable doubt and also disprove to the same high standard any legal defence raised on the available evidence.
Here's a rundown of theft, larceny and stealing laws across Australian states and territories, as well as the potential penalties and available legal defences.
