Imagine parking your car in Marion Avenue or docking your boat after a day on the Peace River, only to find someone broke in and stole your belongings. Most people call this stealing or vehicle theft. However, the State of Florida views this through a much more serious legal lens. If you take items from inside a vehicle, boat or vessel, prosecutors will not just charge you with theft. You will likely face severe felony burglary charges as well.
Burglary of a Conveyance Explained
In Florida, the law uses the word “conveyance” to describe any motor vehicle, ship, boat, trailer or aircraft. When someone enters a vehicle or boat without permission to commit a crime inside, they commit burglary of a conveyance.
The state measures the severity of this crime by the specific circumstances of the event:
- Unoccupied conveyance: Breaking into an empty car or boat is a third-degree felony, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
- Occupied conveyance: If someone is inside the vehicle or boat when the break-in happens, the charge jumps to a second-degree felony. This applies even if the perpetrator did not know someone was inside, and it carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
- Armed or unarmed: If the perpetrator carries a dangerous weapon or explosive during the crime, or becomes armed inside by stealing a weapon, the state upgrades the charge to a first-degree felony. This carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
In addition to burglary, the state charges the perpetrator for the actual items taken. Florida law classifies any theft of property valued at $750 or more as grand theft.
The value of a good legal defense
The criminal justice system penalizes vehicle and boat break-ins aggressively. A single mistake can result in multiple felony counts that permanently damage a person’s future, employment options and freedom. Seeking help from a qualified criminal defense attorney in Punta Gorda is advisable because prosecutors must prove every element of intent and property value beyond a reasonable doubt.
An experienced lawyer can review the police procedures, challenge inaccurate property valuations and build a strong strategy to protect your rights.
Stealing from a car or boat in Punta Gorda involves much more than a simple misdemeanor charge. The law treats vehicles as protected spaces, meaning a perpetrator will face overlapping felony charges for both the break-in and the theft.
