Bail Bonds for Property Crimes Like Theft in California

"Property crime" covers a lot of ground in California — everything from a $50 vandalism charge to a felony burglary that carries years of state prison time. Most people who suddenly find themselves dealing with a property crime arrest don't know the difference, and the differences matter enormously.

This guide walks through what property crimes actually are in California, how the categories work, how bail is set, and what to do first if you or someone you love is arrested. If you need help right now, we're at (530) 265-0535 day or night.

What Counts as a Property Crime?

A property crime is any offense where the harm is to property or money rather than to a person. In California, the main categories are:

• Theft — taking property that isn't yours (petty theft, grand theft, shoplifting, larceny)
• Burglary — entering a structure with intent to commit a crime inside
• Robbery — taking property from a person by force or fear (this one blurs the line into "crimes against persons" because force is involved)
• Vandalism — damaging or destroying property that belongs to someone else
• Fraud — obtaining property or money through deception (forgery, credit card fraud, identity theft, embezzlement)
• Receiving stolen property — knowingly buying, accepting, or hiding property that was stolen
• Arson — intentionally setting fire to property
• Vehicle-related — joyriding, auto theft, carjacking

Some of these are almost always misdemeanors. Some are almost always felonies. Many are wobblers — charges the prosecutor can file either way depending on the facts. Understanding which category your loved one's charge falls into is the first step toward figuring out what to expect.

The Three Distinctions That Drive Everything

Almost every important detail about a property crime case — bail amount, sentence exposure, long-term consequences — comes down to three questions.

1. Misdemeanor or felony? This is the biggest single factor. Misdemeanors are limited to one year in county jail; felonies open the door to state prison. Misdemeanor bail is usually modest and set from the county schedule; felony bail can be substantially higher and sometimes requires a judge to set it at arraignment.

2. Was the property value over or under $950? California's Proposition 47 (passed in 2014) set $950 as the major dividing line for many property crimes. Most thefts under $950 are now misdemeanors. Above $950, the same conduct can be charged as a felony.

3. Was force or a weapon involved? A pure property crime (no force, no weapon, no victim present) is one thing. Add a weapon, threats, or a victim who was confronted, and the case crosses into "robbery" or "burglary with aggravating factors" territory — which changes everything about how the case is treated.

For a deeper dive on the misdemeanor/felony distinction in general, see our reference post: Misdemeanor vs. Felony in California: What the Difference Actually Means.

Theft Charges in California

Theft is the most common property crime category. California uses property value to set the line between misdemeanor and felony.

Petty theft (PC 484, PC 488, PC 490.2) — Theft of property valued under $950. Almost always charged as a misdemeanor under Proposition 47. Bail in Nevada County is typically around $1,500 for a base petty theft case under the current schedule. Carries up to 6 months in county jail and modest fines.

Grand theft (PC 487) — Theft of property valued at $950 or more. Grand theft is a wobbler — it can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts. Felony grand theft can carry up to 3 years in state prison. Bail amounts vary significantly based on the value involved:

• Base felony grand theft: somewhere around $10,000
• If value exceeds $5,000: typically around $15,000
• If value exceeds $10,000: typically around $25,000
• If the theft involved a threat of personal injury: around $25,000

Shoplifting (PC 459.5) — Entering a commercial establishment during business hours with intent to commit theft of items valued under $950. Almost always a misdemeanor under Proposition 47, though felony-level bail can sometimes apply due to prior convictions or registration requirements. We cover this charge specifically in our separate post: Shoplifting and Felony Bail in California: Understanding PC 459.5.

Credit card fraud (PC 484) — Unauthorized use of a credit card. Misdemeanor for amounts under $400 (bail around $2,000). Felony when amounts exceed $400 or other aggravating factors apply, which falls into the broader theft/fraud schedule.

Theft of lost property (PC 485) — Keeping property you found knowing it belongs to someone else, without making reasonable efforts to return it. Misdemeanor at $1,500 bail for amounts under $400.

Theft of utilities (PC 498) — Stealing electricity, gas, water, or cable services. Misdemeanor at around $1,500 bail for losses under $400.

Burglary Charges

Burglary is one of the most serious property crimes in California, and it carries some of the highest bail amounts. The key thing to understand: burglary doesn't require that anything was actually stolen. It's about entering a structure with the intent to commit a crime inside.

First-degree burglary (PC 459/460(a)) — Burglary of a residence (an inhabited dwelling). Always a felony in California. Counts as a "strike" under California's Three Strikes Law. Bail in Nevada County is typically around $50,000 under the base schedule, though it can go significantly higher depending on whether anyone was home, whether weapons were involved, and whether there are prior convictions. Carries 2, 4, or 6 years in state prison.

Second-degree burglary (PC 459/460(b)) — Burglary of a non-residential structure (commercial buildings, sheds, vehicles in some circumstances). A wobbler — can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Felony second-degree burglary carries 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in state prison.

Burglary with explosives (PC 464) — Using explosives or torches to commit burglary. Felony with around $50,000 base bail.

Possession of burglar tools (PC 466) — Having tools designed for breaking into structures (slim jims, lock picks, etc.) with intent to use them. Misdemeanor at around $2,500 bail.

Robbery

Robbery is technically a property crime, but California law treats it more like a violent crime because it involves taking property from a person by force or fear. Robbery bail amounts reflect that.

Robbery (PC 211) — Taking personal property from another person against their will, by force or fear. Always a felony. Counts as a strike. Bail in Nevada County is typically around $100,000 for base robbery cases.

First-degree robbery (PC 212.5(a) or (b)) — Robbery in an inhabited dwelling, from someone using an ATM, or from a driver/passenger of certain vehicles. Bail around $100,000.

Second-degree robbery (PC 212.5(c)) — All other robberies. Bail around $25,000.

Robbery of an inhabited dwelling (PC 213(a)(1)) — A specific aggravated form. Bail around $100,000.

Carjacking (PC 215) — Taking a vehicle from a person by force or fear. Always a felony. Counts as a violent strike. Bail in Nevada County typically around $200,000.

Vandalism

Vandalism charges depend almost entirely on the dollar amount of damage caused.

Misdemeanor vandalism (PC 594(b)(2)(B)) — Damage valued under $400. Bail typically around $1,500. Carries up to 1 year in county jail.

Felony vandalism (PC 594(b)(1)) — Damage valued at $400 or more. Bail typically around $10,000 base, with higher amounts for damages exceeding $5,000 or $10,000. Carries 16 months to 3 years in state prison on the felony side.

Graffiti specifically — Under PC 640.5 and PC 640.6, graffiti is a misdemeanor with around $1,500 bail (or around $5,000 with a prior). Schools can require restitution.

Fraud, Forgery, and White-Collar Property Crimes

These charges cover a wide range and are grouped together in California's bail schedule. The base felony bail for offenses under Penal Code sections 470 through 593(g) — which includes forgery, theft, embezzlement, false impersonation, fraud, insurance fraud, and malicious mischief — starts at around $10,000 and goes up based on the value involved.

Forgery (PC 470) — Signing someone else's name without authority, or making/altering documents to defraud. Misdemeanor at around $1,500 for amounts under $950. Felony for amounts over $950, with base bail around $10,000.

Identity theft (PC 530.5) — Using another person's personal identifying information for fraudulent purposes. Wobbler. Felony bail amounts increase with the value of the loss.

Embezzlement (PC 503-508) — Taking property entrusted to you (typically by an employer). Treated similarly to theft — value determines misdemeanor vs. felony filing.

Bad checks (PC 476a) — Knowingly writing a check with insufficient funds. Misdemeanor at around $1,500 for amounts under $950.

Insurance fraud (PC 550) — A wide range of insurance fraud offenses. We cover the broader fraud topic in our post on California Penal Code 550: Arrests, Bail, and Legal Steps.

For all of these, the schedule provides escalating bail tiers based on loss amount:

• Base felony bail: around $10,000
• Loss exceeding $5,000: around $15,000
• Loss exceeding $10,000: around $25,000
• Cases involving threat of personal injury: around $25,000

Receiving Stolen Property (PC 496)

Knowingly buying, receiving, concealing, or selling property that has been stolen. A wobbler. The same $950 threshold applies as with theft itself — misdemeanor under $950 (bail around $1,500), felony for higher-value property.

Joyriding and Auto Theft

Joyriding (PC 499b) — Taking a bicycle or boat without permission, with intent to use it temporarily rather than permanently steal it. Misdemeanor — around $1,000 bail for bicycles, $2,500 for boats.

Auto theft (Vehicle Code 10851) — Taking or driving someone else's vehicle without consent. Wobbler. Often charged alongside burglary or receiving stolen property when the case involves a stolen car.

Arson

Arson is sometimes categorized as a property crime, sometimes as a violent crime — depending on whether anyone was harmed.

PC 451 arson — Intentionally setting fire to property. Always a felony. Bail amounts under the Nevada County schedule vary significantly:

• Arson causing great bodily injury: around $150,000
• Arson of an inhabited structure or property: around $250,000
• Arson of structure or forest land: around $100,000
• Arson during a state of emergency: around $75,000 (plus enhancement)

PC 452 reckless burning — Setting fire to property recklessly rather than intentionally. Wobbler. Bail typically around $25,000 on the felony side.

How Bail Is Set for Property Crimes in Nevada County

The 2026 Nevada County Bail Schedule sets presumptive base amounts for property crimes. The actual bail in any specific case depends on the facts, the judge's assessment, and any enhancements that apply.

The three things that most affect property crime bail:

1. Value of property involved. This is the single biggest driver. The schedule has explicit tiers for $5,000+ and $10,000+ loss amounts in fraud and theft cases. Higher values mean higher bail.

2. Whether the charge is filed as misdemeanor or felony. Most property crime bail under $10,000 is misdemeanor; the bigger jumps happen at the felony level. Many property crimes are wobblers, so charging discretion matters a lot.

3. Prior criminal history. Strike priors are the biggest enhancement under the schedule — one prior serious or violent felony adds around $25,000, two or more add around $150,000. Prior property crime convictions specifically can also push prosecutors toward felony filing on what would otherwise be a misdemeanor.

Other enhancements that can apply:

• New offense committed while on release for a prior offense (PC 12022.1): doubles bail for the new offense
• Use of a firearm or deadly weapon (PC 12022): adds around $100,000
• Other enhancements not specifically listed: typically add around $15,000 each

Multiple charges on the same date: Per the schedule, if a defendant is booked for multiple offenses occurring on the same date, total bail is generally limited to double the highest offense rather than added cumulatively. So a burglary plus receiving stolen property arising from the same incident won't necessarily double the bail.

At 10% bail bond premium, a $10,000 property crime bail means a $1,000 premium. A $50,000 bail means $5,000. A $100,000 bail means $10,000.

Long-Term Consequences of a Property Crime Conviction

Some of these last for years beyond any jail or prison time.

Criminal record. Both misdemeanor and felony property crime convictions create a permanent criminal record. Misdemeanors can often be expunged under PC 1203.4 after probation is completed. Felonies are harder to remove from the record.

Employment impact. Theft-related convictions are particularly damaging to employment prospects. Many employers categorically refuse to hire applicants with theft or fraud convictions, especially for roles involving money handling, customer access, or trust positions.

Professional licenses. Theft and fraud convictions trigger automatic review or revocation for many professional licenses — financial services, real estate, healthcare, legal services, and government positions especially.

Housing. Property crime convictions can trigger landlord denials, especially in competitive rental markets.

Immigration. For non-citizens, theft and fraud convictions can qualify as "crimes involving moral turpitude" under federal immigration law and trigger deportation proceedings. The threshold varies by specific charge.

Restitution. Property crime convictions almost always require paying restitution to the victim — the actual dollar value of property stolen or damaged. This is in addition to any fines.

Civil rights. Felony property crime convictions trigger the standard felony consequences — loss of voting rights while incarcerated, loss of firearm rights, exclusion from jury service.

What to Do First If a Loved One Is Arrested

The first hours matter.

Call us at (530) 265-0535. We'll verify the booking at the Nevada County Jail (Wayne Brown Correctional Facility), find out the specific charges, and let you know whether bail has been set from the schedule or whether the case requires a judge to set bail at arraignment.

Don't talk about the case. Phone calls from the jail are recorded. Anything the arrested person says to police, jail staff, or in monitored calls can be used at trial. The right to remain silent is real and important.

Hire a criminal defense attorney quickly. For misdemeanor property crimes, a general criminal defense attorney is often fine. For felony cases — especially burglary, robbery, or anything involving significant value — find an attorney with specific experience in property crime cases. Many offer free consultations.

Document anything relevant. Receipts proving ownership, photos of the property in question, communications that might explain the situation. Once a case is filed, evidence-gathering becomes much harder.

Don't contact alleged victims directly. Even if the property dispute is between family members or business partners. Direct contact during a pending case can result in additional charges.

Plan for restitution. For minor property crimes, demonstrating willingness to make the victim whole can sometimes lead to reduced charges or favorable plea deals. Talk to your attorney about this early.

FAQ

Is shoplifting a felony in California?
Almost never. Under Proposition 47, shoplifting under $950 is generally a misdemeanor. However, felony-level bail can sometimes apply due to prior convictions or sex offender registration requirements. See our separate post for details: Shoplifting and Felony Bail in California: Understanding PC 459.5.

What's the difference between burglary and robbery?
Burglary is entering a structure with intent to commit a crime — no victim has to be present, no force has to be used. Robbery is taking property from a person by force or fear — the person and the force are required elements.

Can a property crime be filed as a felony if no one was hurt?
Yes. The $950 dollar threshold under Proposition 47 is the main dividing line. Property crimes involving losses above $950, or involving aggravating factors like a weapon or prior convictions, can be filed as felonies even with no physical harm.

What if my loved one was arrested for something they didn't do?
Property crime cases often involve mistaken identity, misunderstanding (e.g., property someone genuinely believed was theirs), or false accusations in disputes. An attorney can evaluate which defenses apply.

Can I get bail money back if the case is dropped?
The 10% premium paid to a bail bondsman is non-refundable — it's the bondsman's fee for service. If you posted the full bail directly with the court (which most families don't do), that money is returned at the end of the case minus court fees.

Will a property crime conviction show up on a background check forever?
Misdemeanor convictions can often be expunged after probation is completed. Felony convictions stay on record indefinitely unless reduced and expunged, which is a more complex process.

How We Help

Bail House Bail Bonds has been serving Nevada County for over 50 years. Property crime cases — from petty theft to felony burglary — are a regular part of what we do.

If you're somewhere in the middle of this right now, the only thing you need to do is call (530) 265-0535. We'll take it from there.