Charged with Theft in Maryland?
Maryland theft lawyers for shoplifting, felony theft, burglary, and fraud. Protect your record and job. Free consult 24/7.
Results based on internal tracking since 2022; outcomes vary. Not a guarantee.
Verified internally; last updated: Jul 27, 2026.
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Charged with Theft in Maryland?
Shoplifting, theft, burglary, and fraud defense statewide. Former prosecutors. Free consult 24/7.
Results based on internal tracking since 2022; outcomes vary. Not a guarantee.
Verified internally; last updated: Jul 27, 2026.
Maryland Theft Lawyer: Shoplifting, Property Crimes & Fraud Defense
A theft charge can mean jail, restitution, and a lasting record that follows you into jobs, housing, and licensing. Maryland's general theft law covers taking property without authorization, using deception to obtain property, possessing stolen goods, and obtaining services without paying. Related property and fraud cases often travel with the same proof problems: intent, identification, value, and search issues.
FrizWoods defends theft, property, and fraud cases statewide. Our Maryland criminal lawyers are former public defenders and a former prosecutor who appear weekly in District and Circuit Court. We challenge loss totals, video identification, and paper trails, and we fight for dismissals, STET, and probation before judgment when the record allows it.
If a store, employer, or alleged victim is already calling you about civil recovery or restitution, talk to counsel before you make a statement or send money.
Start here: Shoplifting | Theft under $100 | Theft $100 to $1,500 | Felony theft | Burglary | Fraud and bad checks | Property crimes
Meet Your Maryland Theft Defense Team
Max Frizalone
Former prosecutor defending theft, shoplifting, embezzlement, and fraud cases statewide.
- Challenges loss totals, video identification, and paper trails in retail and document-driven cases.
- Skilled in theft scheme aggregation fights and felony valuation disputes.
- Pushes for dismissals, STET, and PBJ to protect jobs and records.
Luke Woods
Veteran trial attorney with decades of theft, burglary, and fraud defense experience.
- Former public defender with extensive Maryland theft and property crime trial work.
- Challenges intent, identification, and search issues in District and Circuit Court.
- Restitution-forward strategies when they create real leverage without giving away the defense.
Both Luke Woods and Max Frizalone specialize in criminal defense. Luke is a veteran trial attorney and former public defender with decades of theft and fraud trial work. Max is a former Assistant State's Attorney who knows how the State builds retail theft, embezzlement, and document-driven fraud files.
Why Choose FrizWoods for Theft, Property & Fraud Defense
Former prosecutor insight
Max knows how theft and fraud cases are charged, valued, and negotiated because he has built them from the other side.
Criminal defense only
Both partners practice criminal defense exclusively. No car accidents, no wills, no distractions from the work that decides your record.
Intent and identification focus
Many retail and self-checkout cases turn on whether the State can prove you meant to steal and that you are the person on the video.
Value and loss challenges
Charge level follows dollar amount. We scrutinize receipts, recovery credits, and aggregated "theft scheme" totals.
Document-heavy fraud work
Embezzlement, credit cards, and bad checks live in paper trails. We challenge the path from ledger to criminal intent.
First-offense record protection
Many first-timers have paths to dismissal, STET, or PBJ. The goal is keeping a low-level retail mistake from becoming a permanent conviction.
Statewide court coverage
Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, Baltimore, Calvert, and surrounding counties every week.
24/7 attorney line
Call (877) 343-1031 after an arrest, a summons, or a civil demand letter tied to a pending criminal case.
How We Build a Theft Defense
Intent
A mistake at checkout, a claim of right, or a misunderstanding about permission can defeat the intent to deprive the owner.
Identification
Grainy store video and assumptions about who left with the merchandise are not enough. We press the State on ID.
Value proof
Misdemeanor versus felony turns on dollar amount. Returned property, recovery credits, and weak loss figures all matter.
Search and seizure
If police overstepped during a stop, search, or detention, we file motions to suppress. Excluding seized items can collapse the case.
Theft scheme aggregation
Multiple takings charged as one plan can inflate the value into felony range. See what is a theft scheme.
Restitution strategy
Early repayment and verified loss figures can support dismissals, reductions, or PBJ when the facts allow, without admitting guilt blindly.
Civil vs criminal
Store civil recovery letters are separate from the criminal case. Paying them does not guarantee dismissal.
Trial readiness
District Court bench trials and Circuit Court juries. Prosecutors price offers based on whether a firm will actually try the case.
Maryland Theft Penalties
Maryland's general theft statute is Criminal Law Section 7-104. Charge level follows the value of the property:
| Value of property | Charge | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $100 | Misdemeanor | Up to 90 days jail and $500 fine |
| $100 to less than $1,500 | Misdemeanor | Up to 6 months jail and $500 fine (up to 1 year for a second conviction) |
| $1,500 to less than $25,000 | Felony | Up to 5 years and $10,000 fine |
| $25,000 to less than $100,000 | Felony | Up to 10 years and $15,000 fine |
| $100,000 or more | Felony | Up to 20 years and $25,000 fine |
Watch the repeat-offender trap: under Criminal Law Section 7-104(g), a person with two or more prior theft convictions who picks up a new theft under $1,500 faces up to 5 years and a $5,000 fine even though the new case would otherwise be a low-level misdemeanor.
Penalties can also include restitution, probation, and collateral fallout for jobs, licensure, and immigration. If your case began with a same-day bail decision, see bail review and pretrial release.
Types of Theft, Property & Fraud Cases We Handle
Shoplifting and retail theft
Self-checkout, loss-prevention stops, and organized retail allegations. See shoplifting defense and organized retail theft.
Misdemeanor theft tiers
Most first retail cases land under $100 or $100 to $1,500. See theft under $100 and theft $100 to $1,500.
Felony theft
Higher values and aggregated schemes change everything. See felony theft thresholds.
Employee theft and embezzlement
Document-heavy cases where intent and loss totals are the fight. See embezzlement.
Credit card and online fraud
Devices, logins, and account access allegations. See credit card theft, credit card fraud, and cybercrime defense.
Fraud and bad checks
Title 8 fraud, insufficient funds, and related deception charges. See fraud and bad checks.
Motor vehicle theft
Car theft, joyriding, and unauthorized removal are not the same charge. See motor vehicle theft, joyriding, and unauthorized removal.
Burglary and breaking and entering
Entry plus intent changes the degree and exposure. See burglary defense, burglary degrees, and breaking and entering.
Robbery
Theft plus force or threat of force against a person. See robbery and armed robbery.
Malicious destruction and trespass
Damage and unauthorized presence cases often travel with theft allegations. See malicious destruction and trespass.
Property crimes overview
Burglary, theft, arson, and related property offenses in one map. See property crimes and arson.
White collar and related charges
When the file looks more like paperwork than a store stop. See white collar defense, bribery, and rogue and vagabond.
What to Do in the First 10 Days
- Do not contact store security or the alleged victim on your own.
- Save receipts, bank statements, and return paperwork. They matter for value and intent.
- Write down names of witnesses and locations of cameras.
- Do not treat a civil recovery letter as the whole case. Paying it does not automatically dismiss criminal charges.
- Call us early for a plan that covers court, restitution, and job concerns. Start with a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions for a Maryland Theft Lawyer
Will a first offense theft case ruin my record?
Not always. Outcomes range from dismissal to PBJ to conviction. Early mitigation and clean paperwork often create better options. Read our guide on resolving Maryland theft charges.
Do I need a lawyer if the store is asking for civil recovery money?
Speak with counsel first. Civil demands are separate from the criminal case and paying them does not guarantee dismissal. See do I need a lawyer for a misdemeanor theft.
What if the property was returned?
Return can help with intent, value, and mitigation, but it does not automatically end the case. We package proof of return and restitution for the prosecutor and the court.
What is the statute of limitations for theft in Maryland?
It depends on the charge. For misdemeanor theft, the general statute of limitations is one year from the date of the alleged crime. For felony theft, there is no prescribed statute of limitations.
How is theft different from robbery or burglary?
Robbery and burglary both involve an underlying theft. Robbery adds the use of force or threat of force against a person. Burglary involves breaking and entering a structure to commit a crime inside. Theft alone involves neither force nor entry.
Are there statutory defenses to theft?
Yes. Maryland law recognizes acting under a good faith claim of right to the property, an honest belief that you had the right to obtain or control it, the spousal property rule (unless the spouses were living apart), and rightful knowledge of a trade secret in trade secret cases.
What is a theft scheme?
Multiple takings that are part of one plan may be added together to set the charge level. That aggregation rule can move a case from misdemeanor to felony. See what is a theft scheme in Maryland.
Can I expunge a theft charge?
Eligibility depends on the outcome and waiting periods. We map out the steps after your case ends.
Maryland Theft Defense by County
We regularly defend theft, shoplifting, burglary, and fraud cases in:
Prince George's County
Baltimore Area
Anne Arundel County
Howard County
Montgomery County
Calvert & Southern MD
What Clients Say About Our Theft Defense
Read what our clients have to say about working with FrizWoods:
Related Theft, Property & Fraud Resources
Theft Charges
Burglary & Robbery
Fraud & Property
Our Theft Defense Office Locations
Upper Marlboro Office
14513 Main Street, Ste B, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 720-1917
Get directions on Google Maps
Columbia Office
6304 Woodside Court, Suite 110, Columbia, MD 21046
Phone: (410) 346-9384
Get directions on Google Maps
Severna Park Office
540 Ritchie Hwy Suite 301, Severna Park, MD 21146
Phone: (410) 883-5667
Get directions on Google Maps
Chesapeake Beach Office
9120 Chesapeake Ave #201, North Beach, MD 20714
Phone: (877) 343-1031
All offices available by appointment. Call our 24/7 attorney line at (877) 343-1031 after a theft arrest, summons, or civil recovery demand.
Talk to a Maryland Theft Lawyer
A theft, property, or fraud charge can follow you for years. Get a plan before your first court date. The first call is free.
Call 24/7: (877) 343-1031