Maryland Men Accused of Stealing Scrap Metal Worth $425,000

Theft is a common crime. It can be easy to take someone else’s money or personal belongings and claim them as your own. While many people take small items, some people go big and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stuff. They may even take enough stuff to fill large cargo containers.

This was what recently happened in Maryland. Three men are facing theft charges after stealing $425,000 in scrap metal. The three men—ages 31, 51 and 69—were accused of taking the metal from a recycling plant. All worked at Bmore Transport, which was the company that was in charge of transporting scrap metal from a plant in Rockville to the Port of Baltimore.

Atlantic Recycling Group, the company that hired Bmore Transport, became suspicious after underweight cargo containers arrived at various destinations. Maryland State Police investigated and found that the three men had stolen the scrap metal between March and May 2019. The men are facing various criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit theft and theft of more than $100,000.

Types of Theft in Maryland

There are various types of theft in Maryland. Some are more serious than others, as the dollar amount of the stolen property is typically the biggest factor in determining punishment. When more than $1,000 is stolen, it becomes a felony. A person can face 10-25 years in prison, as well as fines of up to $25,000. In addition, in shoplifting cases, a person can be held civilly liable. This means that the person will be ordered to pay restitution. They will either have to return the stolen property or reimburse the retailer for the stolen merchandise.

The seven types of theft recognized in Maryland include the following:

• This is the basic theft of someone else’s personal belongings.
• Larceny by trick.This is when a person makes false statements in order to gain possession of another person’s property.
• Larceny after trust. This is when someone gains the trust of another person and then takes their property without authorization.
• This involves taking money or other assets from a company.
• False pretenses. This is when someone gives another person an item to use or borrow, and the person takes it with no intention of returning it.
• This is when a person intentionally takes an item from a store without paying for it.
• Receiving stolen property. This is when a person benefits by stealing property from another person. For example, a person may steal a person’s bicycle and then sell it to make money.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

There are various categories of theft crimes in Maryland. Some may be misdemeanors, while others may be charged as felonies.

Theft charges can be serious, resulting in many years in prison and hefty fines. Some judges convict people harshly, even for first-time offenses. The Columbia theft attorneys at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. can give you the aggressive representation you need. Schedule a free consultation by calling (410) 774-5987 or filling out the online form.

Resource:

wtop.com/maryland/2019/11/3-maryland-men-accused-of-stealing-425k-worth-of-scrap-metal-in-2-months/

https://www.marylandlawhelp.com/4-baltimore-women-charged-with-shoplifting/