The current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has certainly disrupted the lives of California residents. One of the more interesting items that has been in hot demand since the beginning of the shelter in place orders is toilet paper. Toilet paper has been flying off store shelves throughout Southern California, leaving many stores out of stock. Recently, according to the Ventura County Star, toilet paper was the object of desire in a Port Hueneme theft.

A Port Hueneme police officer spotted a car driving with an open container of alcohol on the dashboard. When the officer pulled the car over, the passengers were on probation and thus subject to be searched. When officers conducted the search of the car, they discovered “31 rolls of toilet paper, 31 towels of various sizes, four sets of bed sheets and 27 tissue boxes.” Investigation revealed that the items were taken from a local hotel. The three passengers of the car, a woman and two men, were arrested on suspicion of petty theft, cited with misdemeanors and then released.

Officers, keeping the situation light, posted on the Port Hueneme Police Department Facebook page stating that this event was an “all-you-can-carry theft; outright toilet paper purloining” and while officers were “trying to protect our public from price gouging and hoarding, it ‘stinks' that we have criminals trying to steal precious supplies from our local hotels.”

While officers tried to keep this situation light, a misdemeanor charge and a criminal record is certainly not something you want to deal with--especially during the current uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus. A petty theft misdemeanor (California Penal Code 484(a)) is charged when a theft involves items valued at $950 or less. The consequences of this misdemeanor can include probation, up to 6 months in jail, and up to a $1,000 fine.

Criminal charges of any kind, from misdemeanors to felonies, can have a negative impact on your life. If you are facing criminal charges, it is important to have an experienced and skilled criminal defense attorney who can fight your case to end. The criminal defense attorneys at the Kann California Law Group have helped many clients accused of theft crimes. If you have been charged with theft or any other type of crime, contact our office today online or by calling 888-744-7730 for a free case consultation.