In Georgia, there are essentially 4 different types of theft :

• Theft by shoplifting
• Theft by taking- when a person unlawfully takes any property belonging to another, or, being in lawful possession of the property of another, unlawfully appropriates it with the intention of depriving the person of the property, regardless of the manner in which the property is taken or appropriated.
• Theft by receiving- when a person receives, disposes of, or retains stolen property which he/she knows or should know was stolen unless the property is received, disposed of, or retained with intent to restore it to the owner.
• Theft by conversion- when a person who has lawfully obtained funds or other property of another under an agreement or other known legal obligation to make a specified application of such funds or a specified disposition of such property, knowingly converts the funds or property to his own use in violation of the agreement or legal obligation.

The threshold dollar amount between a felony theft charge and a misdemeanor theft charge is $500 (except for shoplifting, where the threshold amount is $300).

If you have been charged with any type of theft-related crime, you should hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to ensure that your case is dismissed, the charges lessened, or an alternative sentence is attained.