The Massachusetts criminal defense law firm of Altman & Altman defends clients facing robbery, burglary, shoplifting, home invasion and bank robbery charges in the Boston area and throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our criminal defense attorneys offer free initial consultations, providing you the opportunity to discuss your case.

Robbery

In Massachusetts, and throughout the United States, robbery is defined as the illegal taking of property from another person, or in the person's presence, by violence or intimidation. A person may also be charged with armed robbery, where the robbery is committed with a weapon, or aggravated robbery, where a person inflicts bodily harm on a victim while committing the robbery.

A key issue in many robbery cases is often the identity of the person who committed the alleged robbery. There are very specific procedures that the police and district attorney's office must follow in attempting to determine who committed the robbery. At the Boston and Cambridge robbery defense firm of Altman & Altman, we have the experience necessary to ensure that all rights are protected. If the police do not act properly, the evidence gathered may be suppressed, or the charges may be dismissed altogether.

In the event you are charged with robbery in the Boston area, or throughout Massachusetts, do not discuss the case with anyone until you have retained an attorney. If you wish to talk to an experienced and professional criminal defense attorney, please call the office of Altman & Altman immediately, and we will be happy to assist you through a free initial consultation.

Burglary

Traditionally, Courts in Boston and throughout Massachusetts and the United States had defined burglary as the entering of a dwelling at night with the intent to commit a felony. In modern times, however, the definition of burglary has been expanded to include the breaking and entering into any building (not just a dwelling), at any time (not just at night) with the intent to commit a felony.

Courts will treat burglary as either a misdemeanor or as a felony, depending on the specific case. A number of factors will go into which class of crime it will fit; among these factors are:

• The time of day
• Whether any person was injured
• The type of building entered
• The value of the property stolen

Depending on the specific facts of the case, a person may receive a sentence ranging from probation to jail time. At the Boston, Massachusetts burglary defense law firm of Altman & Altman, we have the experience and resources to fight charges of burglary. Once again, there are very specific procedures that police and the Commonwealth must follow in gathering evidence and prosecuting a person for burglary. Failure on their part to follow these procedures may lead to a reduction in the charges or their outright dismissal.

Shoplifting

When things are taken from a store without paying for them, it is shoplifting. It can also be called Petty Theft or Grand Theft, and it can be a misdemeanor or felony charge. Shoplifting can include all sorts of situations where things are taken without paying for them. These can include price tag switching, changing labels or price tags, writing phony checks, stealing shopping carts or eating food while shopping and hiding the wrapper.

Your criminal history, the amount of items stolen, and the value of those things all help a judge determine what the punishment is for a shoplifting conviction. For things stolen that are worth less than $100, there are fines of $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second offense. For a third offense, the penalty is a jail sentence for up to two years. For items stolen that are worth $100 or more, a first offense can bring a jail sentence of 2½ years and a $1,000 fine, and subsequent offenses can bring more jail time or higher fines.

Home Invasion

As part of the General Laws of Massachusetts, home invasion is the crime where a person goes into another’s home, either while knowing or having good reason to think that that person is home, and stays there with a dangerous weapon or uses or threatens to use force on that person. In Massachusetts, the punishment for a home invasion conviction can be a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in state prison.

To try to improve your case outcome, hire a qualified attorney to represent your case and do not represent yourself in court. Obtain recommendations from others that show your good character, such as letters of recommendation, proof of community service, and/or proof of your work history. Keep records of all important events and potential witnesses. Do not speak to anyone about your case other than your own retained counsel.

Bank Robbery

A bank robbery happens when a person has used threats, violence or force to take money from a federally insured bank, credit union, or savings and loan association. As a federal crime, the punishment for committing a bank robbery is severe, and can bring a prison sentence of ten years to life, as well as severe fines. This is true whether a gun was used or not, and even a note sent to a teller can have serious consequences.

If you or a loved one have been charged with robbery, burglary, shoplifting, home invasion or bank robbery contact Altman & Altman at 617.492.3000 or 800.481.6199 (toll-free) or online. We would be happy to assist you through a free, initial consultation. Do not discuss the case with anyone until you have retained an attorney.

Altman LLP's lawyers handle personal injury & criminal defense cases in all Massachusetts cities including: Allston, Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Braintree, Brighton, Brockton, Brookline, Cambridge, Charlestown, Dedham, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Gloucester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Lawrence, Lexington, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Medford, Middlesex County, New Bedford, Needham, Newton, Norfolk County, Plymouth, Quincy, Revere, Roxbury, Salem, Saugus, Somerville, South Boston, Springfield, Suffolk County, Taunton, Walpole, Waltham, Wareham, Watertown, West Roxbury, Winchester, Worcester, Worcester County and Wrentham. Altman LLP's attorneys are dedicated to serving our clients needs regarding every aspect of their personal injury or criminal defense case. We also handle accident cases that happened on all roads and highways throughout Massachusetts including Route 128, Route 93, Route 495, Route 290, Route 2, Route 95, The Mass Pike Route 190, Route 3, Route 1, Route 11,0 Route 9, and Route 20.