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Theft of guns

On Behalf of | Apr 6, 2015 | Theft

When you think or hear about home invasions, a theft of guns doesn’t exactly come to mind. We hear about break-ins that lead to jewelry, TVs, artwork, etc., all being taken. But a recent case shows that weapons can be added to the list of items taken.

Over in Mount Dora, FL, police are searching for two men, who they say carried out a home invasion two weeks ago, in which at least eight guns were stolen. There was only one person inside the home, when a pair of unarmed men entered. Sounds far from your average home invasion. This could be a case that baffles law enforcement and prosecutors.

In the state of Florida, a person commits theft by taking or using someone else’s property while having criminal intent. This incident sounds a little fishy to be sure that an actual theft took place with these guns. Florida law states that a person commits theft when “he or she knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use, the property of another with intent to, either temporarily or permanently”.

It’s very possible that the person in the home with guns initially stole them from the men who broke in. Now, an offense like this would ordinarily be classified as petit theft. But it can be bumped up to a first degree misdemeanor, if the offender has previously been convicted of any theft offense. The same goes for two or more previous theft convictions. That will bump a petit theft offense up to a third degree felony.

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