Petit Theft

What Are The Elements Of Theft?

(Florida Standard Jury Instruction 14.1)

To prove the crime of Theft, the State must prove the following two elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. (Defendant) knowingly and unlawfully [obtained or used] [endeavored to obtain or to use] the (property alleged) of (victim).

Give 2a or 2b or both as applicable.
2. [He] [She] did so with intent to, either temporarily or permanently,
a. deprive (victim) of [his] [her] right to the property or any benefit from it.
[or]
b. appropriate the property of (victim) to [his] [her] own use or to the use of any person not entitled to it.

Give as applicable.
If you find the defendant guilty of Theft, you must also determine if the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that:

a. the value of the property taken was $100,000 or more.

b. the value of the property taken was $20,000 or more but less than $100,000.

c. the value of the property taken was $10,000 or more but less than $20,000.

d. the value of the property taken was $5,000 or more but less than $10,000.

e. the value of the property taken was $750 or more but less than $5,000.

f. the value of the property taken was $100 or more but less than $750.

g. the value of the property taken was less than $100.

h. the property taken was a semitrailer that was deployed by a law enforcement officer.

i. the property taken was cargo valued at $50,000 or more that has entered the stream of commerce from the shipper’s loading platform to the consignee’s receiving dock.

j. the property taken was cargo valued at less than $50,000 that has entered the stream of commerce from the shipper’s loading platform to the consignee’s receiving dock.

k. the property taken was emergency medical equipment valued at $300 or more that was taken from [a licensed facility] [an emergency medical aircraft or vehicle].

l. the property taken was law enforcement equipment valued at $300 or more that was taken from an authorized emergency vehicle.

m. (defendant), individually or in concert with one or more persons, coordinated the activities of another in committing the theft and the value of the property taken was more than $3,000.

n. the stolen property was [a will, codicil, or other testamentary instrument] [a firearm] [a motor vehicle] [a commercially farmed animal] [an aquaculture species raised at a certified aquaculture facility] [a fire extinguisher that, at the time of the taking, was installed in a building for the purpose of fire prevention and control] [2,000 or more pieces of citrus fruit] [taken from a legally posted construction site] [a stop sign] [anhydrous ammonia] [a controlled substance. Under Florida law, (name of controlled substance) is a controlled substance.]

o. the value of the property taken was $40 or more but less than $750 and was taken from [a dwelling] [the unenclosed curtilage of a dwelling].

p. the value of the property taken was $750 or more and was taken from [a dwelling] [the unenclosed curtilage of a dwelling].

q. the property was taken from [more than 20 dwellings] [the unenclosed curtilage of more than 20 dwellings].

r. the value of the property taken was less than $40 and was taken from [a dwelling] [the unenclosed curtilage of a dwelling].

Give if applicable but only in cases of grand theft. § 812.014(2)(a)3, Fla. Stat.
If you find the defendant guilty of theft, you must also determine if the State has proved beyond a reasonable doubt whether:

s. in the course of committing the theft, (defendant) used a motor vehicle as an instrumentality, other than merely as a getaway vehicle, to assist in committing the theft and thereby damaged the real property of another.

t. in the course of committing the theft, (defendant) caused more than $1,000 in damage to the [real] [personal] property of another.

State of emergency. Applies only to elements b, c, d, j, k and l above.
If you find (defendant) guilty of theft, you must also determine if the State has proved beyond a reasonable doubt whether:

u. the theft was committed within a county that was subject to a state of emergency that had been declared by the governor under Chapter 252, the “State Emergency Management Act”

and

the perpetration of the theft was facilitated by conditions arising from the emergency.

Inferences. Give if applicable. § 812.022(1), Fla. Stat.
Proof that a person presented false identification, or identification not current in respect to name, address, place of employment, or other material aspect in connection with the leasing of personal property or failed to return leased property within 72 hours of the termination of the leasing agreement, unless satisfactorily explained, gives rise to an inference that the property was obtained or is now used with unlawful intent to commit theft.

§ 812.022(2), Fla. Stat.
Proof of possession of recently stolen property, unless satisfactorily explained, gives rise to an inference that the person in possession of the property knew or should have known that the property had been stolen.

§ 812.022(3), Fla. Stat. Do not give unless there is evidence of the fair market value of the stolen property. Barfield v. State, 613 So. 2d 507 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993).
Proof of the purchase or sale of stolen property at a price substantially below the fair market value, unless satisfactorily explained, gives rise to an inference that the person buying or selling the property knew or should have known that the property had been stolen.

§ 812.022(4), Fla. Stat.
Proof of the purchase or sale of stolen property by a dealer in property, out of the regular course of business or without the usual indicia of ownership other than mere possession, unless satisfactorily explained, gives rise to an inference that the person buying or selling the property knew or should have known that it had been stolen.

§ 812.022(5), Fla. Stat.
Proof that a dealer who regularly deals in used property possesses stolen property upon which a name and phone number of a person other than the offeror of the property are conspicuously displayed gives rise to an inference
that the dealer possessing the property knew or should have known that the property was stolen.

§ 812.022(6), Fla. Stat.
Proof that a person was in possession of a stolen motor vehicle and that the ignition mechanism of the motor vehicle had been bypassed or the steering wheel locking mechanism had been broken or bypassed, unless satisfactorily explained, gives rise to an inference that the person in possession of the stolen motor vehicle knew or should have known that the motor vehicle had been stolen.

Definitions. Give if applicable.
§ 316.003, Fla. Stat.
“Authorized emergency vehicles” are vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol), police vehicles, and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal departments, public service corporations operated by private corporations, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Corrections as are designated or authorized by their respective department or the chief of police of an incorporated city or any sheriff of any of the various counties.

§ 812.012(1), Fla. Stat.
“Cargo” means partial or entire shipments, containers, or cartons of property which are contained in or on a trailer, motortruck, aircraft, vessel, warehouse, freight station, freight consolidation facility, or air navigation facility.

§ 812.014(2), Fla. Stat.
“Conditions arising from the emergency” means civil unrest, power outages, curfews, voluntary or mandatory evacuations, or a reduction in the presence of or response time for first responders or homeland security personnel.

§ 810.011(2), Fla. Stat.; Dubose v. State, 210 So. 3d 641 (Fla. 2017).
“Dwelling” means a building [or conveyance] of any kind, whether such building [or conveyance] is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, which has a roof over it and is designed to be occupied by people lodging therein at night, together with the enclosed space of ground and outbuildings immediately surrounding it. [The enclosure need not be continuous as it may have an ungated opening for entering and exiting.] For purposes of theft, a “dwelling” includes an attached porch or attached garage.

§ 812.014(2)(b)3, Fla. Stat.
“Emergency medical aircraft or vehicle” means any aircraft, ambulance or other vehicle used as an emergency medical service vehicle that has been issued a permit in accordance with Florida law.

§ 812.014(2)(b)3, Fla. Stat.
“Emergency medical equipment” means mechanical or electronic apparatus used to provide emergency service and care or to treat medical emergencies.

§ 395.002(9), Fla. Stat.
“Emergency services and care” means medical screening, examination, and evaluation by a physician, or other medically appropriate personnel under the supervision of a physician, to determine if an emergency medical condition exists, and if it does, the care, treatment, or surgery by a physician necessary to relieve or eliminate the emergency medical condition, within the service capability of the facility.

§ 812.014(2)(b)4, Fla. Stat., and § 943.10, Fla. Stat.
“Law enforcement equipment” means any property, device, or apparatus used by a law enforcement officer in the officer’s official business. A law enforcement officer is any person who is elected, appointed, or employed full time by any municipality or the state or any political subdivision thereof; who is vested with authority to bear arms and make arrests; and whose primary responsibility is the prevention and detection of crime or the enforcement of the penal, criminal, traffic, or highway laws of the state. This definition includes all certified supervisory and command personnel whose duties include, in whole or in part, the supervision, training, guidance, and management responsibilities of full-time law enforcement officers, part-time law enforcement officers, or auxiliary law enforcement officers but does not include support personnel employed by the employing agency.

§ 810.09(2)(d), Fla. Stat.
If the construction site is greater than one acre in area, see § 810.09(2)(d)1, Fla. Stat., and § 810.011(5)(a), Fla. Stat.
A “legally posted construction site” means a construction site of one acre or less in area with a sign prominently placed on the property where the construction permits are located, in letters no less than two inches in height, that reads in substantially the following manner: “THIS AREA IS A DESIGNATED CONSTRUCTION SITE, AND ANYONE WHO TRESPASSES ON THIS PROPERTY COMMITS A FELONY.”

§ 395.002(16), Fla. Stat.
“Licensed facility” means a hospital, ambulatory surgical center, or mobile surgical facility licensed by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. See chapter 395, Fla. Stat.

Medrano v. State, 199 So. 3d 413 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016); § 320.01, Fla. Stat. (Some of these terms have their own statutory definitions, which should be given if necessary.)
“Motor vehicle” means an automobile, motorcycle, truck, trailer, semitrailer, truck tractor and semitrailer combination, or any other vehicle operated on the roads of this state, used to transport persons or property, and
propelled by power other than muscular power, but the term does not include traction engines, road rollers, motorized scooters, micromobility devices, personal delivery devices, mobile carriers, special mobile equipment, vehicles that run only upon a track, bicycles, electric bicycles, swamp buggies, or mopeds.

§ 810.09(1)(b), Fla. Stat.
“Unenclosed curtilage” means the unenclosed land or grounds, and any outbuildings, that are directly and intimately adjacent to and connected with the dwelling and necessary, convenient, and habitually used in connection with that dwelling.

§ 812.012(3), Fla. Stat. Give appropriate portions of the definition as needed.
“Obtains or uses” means any manner of

a. Taking or exercising control over property.

b. Making any unauthorized use, disposition, or transfer of property.

c. Obtaining property by fraud, willful misrepresentation of a future act, or false promise.

d. Conduct previously known as stealing; larceny; purloining; abstracting; embezzlement; misapplication; misappropriation; conversion; or obtaining money or property by false pretenses, fraud, deception; or other conduct similar in nature.

“Endeavor” means to attempt or try.

§ 812.012(4), Fla. Stat. Give appropriate portions of the definition as needed.
“Property” means anything of value, and includes:

[real property, including things growing on, affixed to and found in land.]

[tangible or intangible personal property, including rights, privileges, interests, and claims.]

[services.]

§ 812.012(6), Fla. Stat. Give appropriate portions of the definition as needed.
“Services” means anything of value resulting from a person’s physical or mental labor or skill, or from the use, possession, or presence of property, and includes:

[repairs or improvements to property.]

[professional services.]

[private, public or government communication, transportation, power, water, or sanitation services.]

[lodging accommodations.]

[admissions to places of exhibition or entertainment.]

§ 812.012(10), Fla. Stat.
“Value” means the market value of the property at the time and place of the offense, or if that value cannot be satisfactorily ascertained, the cost of replacement of the property within a reasonable time after the offense.
If the exact value of the property cannot be ascertained, you should attempt to determine a minimum value. If you cannot determine the minimum value, you must find the value is less than $100.

Theft of an Instrument. Give if applicable.
In the case of a written instrument that does not have a readily ascertainable market value, such as a check, draft, or promissory note, the value is the amount due or collectible.

In the case of any other instrument that creates, releases, discharges or otherwise affects any valuable legal right, privilege, or obligation, the value is the greatest amount of economic loss that the owner of the instrument might reasonably suffer by virtue of the loss of the instrument.

Theft of a Trade Secret. Give if applicable.
The value of a trade secret that does not have a readily ascertainable market value is any reasonable value representing the damage to the owner suffered by reason of losing an advantage over those who do not know of or use the trade secret.

Theft Pursuant to One Scheme. Give if applicable.
Amounts of value of separate properties involved in thefts committed pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, whether the thefts are from the same person or several persons, may be added together to determine the total value of the theft.

Good faith defense. Give if applicable. Cliff Berry, Inc. v. State, 116 So. 3d 394 (Fla. 3d DCA 2012).
It is a defense to the charge of Theft if (defendant) had an honest, good faith belief that [he] [she] had the right to possess the (property alleged) of (victim).

If you have a reasonable doubt about whether (defendant) had an honest, good faith belief, even though unreasonable or mistaken, that [he] [she] had the right to possess the (property alleged) of (victim), you should find [him] [her] not guilty of Theft.

If you find the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant did not have an honest, good faith belief that [he] [she] had the right to possess the (property alleged) of (victim), you should find [him] [her] guilty, if all of the elements of Theft have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Give if the degree of theft is higher based on one or more priors.
It is error to inform the jury of a prior theft conviction. If the charging document contains an allegation of one or more prior theft convictions, do not read that allegation and do not send the charging document into the jury room. If the defendant is found guilty of a theft, the historical fact of a previous conviction must be determined beyond a reasonable doubt in a bifurcated proceeding. State v. Harbaugh, 754 So. 2d 691 (Fla. 2000).
A prior robbery conviction can be used as a predicate for felony petit theft. Grimes v. State, 724 So. 2d 614 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998).
As of October 1, 2023, a second conviction for Grand Theft Firearm is a second degree felony ranked as a level 7 scoresheet offense.

Now that you have found the defendant guilty of Theft, you must further determine whether the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was previously convicted [two or more times] of any [Theft] [Robbery] [Grand Theft of a Firearm].