Raleigh Property Crime Attorney

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Crimes relating to another party's property in North Carolina can result in misdemeanor or felony offenses. This category of charges is not related to simply vandalism or graffiti, but instead includes a broad range of crimes that carry steep penalties that may include heavy fines and lengthy imprisonment.

In addition to the immediate punishments, a conviction can also create a criminal record that has profound long-term consequences on a person's personal and professional life. Any person who is facing these criminal charges should immediately seek the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Raleigh Property Crimes Lawyer

Clifford Law Group represents clients throughout North Carolina's Triangle area who are accused of offenses related to property. We help people in such areas as Carrboro, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Durham, Wake Forest, Apex, Cary, and Raleigh.

Our Raleigh criminal defense lawyer defends alleged first-time offenders as well as those who are alleged repeat offenders. You can call (919) 441-1799 to have us review your case during a free, confidential consultation.

Types of North Carolina Property Crimes

Some examples of offenses relating to another party's property include:

Burglary - North Carolina General Statute § 14-51 establishes two degrees of burglary. If a person unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter an occupied dwelling, this is burglary in the first degree. If a person unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter an unoccupied dwelling, it is classified as burglary in the second degree.

North Carolina General Statute § 14-57 also establishes burglary with explosives for any person who, "with intent to commit any felony or larceny therein, breaks and enters, either by day or by night, any building, whether inhabited or not, and opens or attempts to open any vault, safe, or other secure place by use of nitroglycerine, dynamite, gunpowder, or any other explosive, or acetylene torch." Burglary in the second degree is classified as a Class G felony, but burglary in the first degree and burglary with explosives are both classified as Class D felonies.

Breaking or Entering - Under North Carolina General Statute § 14-54, wrongfully breaking or entering any building is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Breaking or entering any building with the intent to terrorize or injure an occupant of the building or the intent to commit any felony or larceny therein is a Class H felony. Additionally, North Carolina General Statute § 14-54.1 establishes that breaking or entering a building that is a place of religious worship is a Class G felony.

Robbery - The classification of this crime, involving the taking of another party's property by force, depends on whether the alleged offender was armed and where the offense allegedly took place. Robbery with firearms or other dangerous weapons (North Carolina General Statute § 14-87) and train robbery (North Carolina General Statute § 14-88) are both classified as Class D felonies. Under North Carolina General Statute § 14-87.1, common-law robbery-or robbery committed without the use of a firearm-is classified as a Class G felony.

Arson - North Carolina General Statute § 14-58 establishes two degrees for arson charges. The burning of an occupied dwelling is arson in the first degree and a Class D felony, but the burning of an unoccupied dwelling is arson in the second degree and a Class G felony. However, there are several specific arson provisions listed under Article 15 in Chapter 14 of the North Carolina General Statutes. These include the burnings of certain public buildings, schoolhouses or buildings of educational institutions, certain bridges and buildings, and certain buildings, which punish convicted offenders as Class F felons. The burnings of buildings or structures in process of construction, boats and barges, ginhouses and tobacco houses, personal property, or fraudulently setting fire to dwelling houses can punish convicted offenders as Class H felons. Additionally, the burning of churches and certain other religious buildings can result in a convicted offender being punished as a Class E felon.

Larceny of Property / Theft - North Carolina General Statute § 14-70 establishes larceny as a Class H felony, although certain convictions may be classified as misdemeanors or a different level of felony offense. Article 16 in Chapter 14 of the North Carolina General Statutes includes provisions that make such crimes as larceny from a merchant or larceny of secret technical processes Class H felonies.

Receiving or Possessing Stolen Goods - North Carolina General Statutes §§ 14-71 through 14-72 establish the crimes of receiving stolen goods, receiving or possessing goods represented as stolen, possessing stolen goods, larceny of property, and receiving stolen goods or possessing stolen goods as all being Class H felonies.

Organized Retail Theft - This offense is defined under North Carolina General Statute § 14-86.6 as a Class H felony if a person conspires with another person to commit theft of retail property valued at more than $1,500 from retail establishments, with the intent to sell that retail property for monetary or other gain, or receives or possesses any such taken or stolen retail property.

Criminal Trespass - Chapter 14 of the North Carolina General Statutes contains multiple trespassing crimes. A person commits the Class 3 misdemeanor of second degree trespass if, without authorization, he or she enters or remains on another party's premises after being notified not to enter or remain there or there are posted notices not to enter the premises. A person commits the Class 2 misdemeanor of first degree trespass if, without authorization, he or she enters or remains on another party's premises so enclosed or secured as to demonstrate clear intent to keep out intruders, or in a building of another.

A person commits the class 1 misdemeanor of domestic criminal trespass if he or she enters after being forbidden to do so or remains after being ordered to leave by the lawful occupant, upon the premises occupied by a present or former spouse or by a person with whom the person charged has lived as if married. However, domestic criminal trespass can be classified as a Class G felony if the person is trespassing upon property operated as a safe house or haven for victims of domestic violence and the person is armed with a deadly weapon at the time of the offense.

Call (919) 441-1799 to reach our Raleigh criminal defense lawyers.