Theft charges in Florida cover a surprisingly wide range, from a first-time shoplifting citation to a felony grand theft charge carrying years of potential prison time. The defense strategy changes significantly depending on where a case falls on that spectrum, and no single approach works for every theft allegation. Intent is the foundation of most defenses Florida law requires that theft be intentional. The prosecution has to prove the person meant to permanently or temporarily deprive someone of property. This opens the door to a defense built entirely around intent. Did the person genuinely believe the item was theirs? Was it a mistake, like walking out of a store with an item left in a cart by accident? A miami petit theft lawyer handling a misdemeanor case will often build the entire defense around this single question, since a lack of criminal intent can be enough to defeat the charge regardless of what actually happened physically. Mistaken identity and insuffici...