Hollywood theft and retail-theft defense
A payment error, disputed return or borrowed item can become a theft investigation before you know what evidence exists. Keep the records that explain the transaction and find out whether you have a court date. Returning the property or paying a store does not settle every issue.
Miller & Jacobs represents people facing theft and shoplifting allegations in Hollywood. We look at how the property changed hands, what the state says you intended and which records can test that account. Call to discuss the charge and the next step.
Have the citation, store letter or case number available when you call.
Broward County Cases
Find the court obligation behind the paperwork
Evidence Review
Review permission, payment, identity and value
Partner Led
Talk with Mark J. Miller or Rick S. Jacobs
Clear Next Steps
Consider the record as well as the next hearing
A notice to appear can require you to attend criminal court even if you were not booked into jail. Check the case number, date and instructions. Keep a store's payment demand separate from the court notice.
Check your current Broward court notice for the hearing location and attendance rules. Some cases go to South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood. Others go to the Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. The incident address does not decide where you must appear.
Read the charge, then check the amount
The charge depends on the property, its value, what happened and the theft law that applies. A prior record or a special rule for certain property can change the charge. We compare the statute with the transaction before explaining the possible penalties.
A low-priced item can still lead to a criminal court date. Check the exact charge: theft, retail theft or another offense. Follow any store ban even if the property was returned.
Check whether the reported value covers one item, several items or several events. The item's condition also matters. Receipts and inventory records can help test whether the amount follows Florida's rules for valuing property.
Florida treats theft of some types of property as a felony even when the price is low. Check the property type and the exact law before relying on a dollar threshold.
Read both the arrest report and the charge filed by the prosecutor. They may differ. Then check the records used to value the property. A general penalty chart can miss rules that affect your case.
When the state files a felony, our Hollywood felony-defense page explains the broader court process. The transaction evidence still needs its own close review.
A useful defense review connects the receipt, the alleged intent and the court file. Each answers a different question.
Reconstruct what happened before and after the disputed moment
A short recording can miss an earlier payment, exchange or grant of permission. We review the full sequence and the records that support it. Keep the original evidence and give counsel an accurate account of what happened.
A theft case does not require store video. Witness accounts and other evidence may support the charge. We check what each witness saw and whether the records support the report.
Florida theft law covers knowingly taking or using another person's property with certain unlawful intent. This includes an intent to deprive the owner of its use, even briefly, or to give it to someone not entitled to it. Planning to return an item is not a complete defense by itself.
If the same event led to another charge, the Hollywood criminal-defense overview helps identify the related issues. Bring all case numbers so the review is not limited to the store's account.
01
Save the original receipt, card confirmation, shopping-app history and any return authorization. Note the register and approximate time. Do not edit a screenshot to make it clearer; keep the complete original for review.
02
Shared bags, carts, cars and accounts can raise identification questions. Identify who had access and what was actually observed. Avoid contacting other witnesses to agree on a version of events.
03
Save messages about borrowing, work purchases, shared property or an agreed return. These can show whether you had permission and what limits applied. We compare them with what the state must prove.
04
Keep the property's value separate from a store's civil demand, a restitution request and other costs. Each amount serves a different purpose. We check the basis for each rather than treating them all as the value of the stolen property.
Choose with the full consequences in view
We check identity, intent, permission, ownership and value. We review evidence that helps your defense and evidence that hurts it. Then we explain what can be challenged and what further records or investigation could help.
Before accepting a plea, ask whether it creates a conviction and what payments, supervision or restrictions it requires. Tell counsel about your professional license, school, immigration status and job plans. The choice affects more than the risk of jail.
Broward has misdemeanor and felony diversion programs. Each has its own entry rules and approval process. Ask what you must admit, complete and pay, and what happens if you miss a deadline. A first charge alone does not guarantee admission.
Confirm the next court date from your notice and Broward court record. Speaking with store staff does not cancel a hearing. Ask counsel to resolve conflicting dates before one passes.
You may receive a store demand, a request for repayment and a plea offer at the same time. Bring all of them. We can explain what each would settle and which deadline comes first.
A direct conversation about your defense
Speak with Mark J. Miller or Rick S. Jacobs about your case. Ask which records they would seek, how they would handle the next hearing and what any offer would resolve.
Partner
Mark J. Miller is a Partner at Miller & Jacobs. Ask how he would review the payment records, alleged intent and court papers in your case.
Partner
Rick S. Jacobs is a Partner at Miller & Jacobs. Read his biography and discuss the evidence and court steps your theft charge involves.
Discuss the scope of representation and fees before hiring counsel. A recommendation depends on the evidence and applicable law; the firm does not promise a particular result.
Call 954-465-8733 for a free initial consultation. Say whether you received a notice to appear, arrest papers, a court notice or a store demand. You do not need to reconstruct the whole incident during the first contact.
Use a general website inquiry to request contact. Ask how to provide private case documents and transaction records before sending them.
Serving Hollywood from our Pompano Beach office
Miller & Jacobs serves Hollywood clients from 1600 S. Federal Highway, Suite 1101, Pompano Beach, FL 33062.
When the store contact leaves questions
Yes. A notice to appear can require action in a criminal case without a jail booking. Read the date and appearance instructions, confirm the case and seek advice promptly. Do not treat the lack of an arrest as proof that no case exists.
No. A payment may address a civil demand without ending a criminal case. Read the demand and any release carefully. The state's prosecution and a private civil claim are separate matters, so ask counsel what the proposed payment would actually resolve.
Not automatically. Successful completion, dismissal and record relief are separate steps. Review the program terms and then check eligibility for sealing or expungement. A record can remain even after a charge is dismissed.
Seek advice before returning or contacting staff about the allegation. Follow any trespass notice or contact restriction. Preserve your receipts and account records instead of trying to obtain a change in the report through a new conversation.
Keep the complete transaction history, digital receipt, payment confirmation and relevant messages in their original form. Note the store, date and approximate time. Counsel can assess which additional records or footage should be requested; do not assume a store keeps every recording indefinitely.
Related defense information
Hollywood felony defense
Hollywood probation matters
Florida criminal defense