Stealing and Theft Offences

To say that you stole something, Police need to show that you:

• Took it (whatever it might be) from someone else;
• Did not have the person’s consent to take it; and
• Are keeping it, with no intention of giving it back.

Stealing is a serious crime with a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment, although that can be increased to 14 years if you carried a weapon or physically harmed someone during the alleged theft.