Theft charges in Illinois range from minor shoplifting to major felony cases, but all carry the risk of a criminal record, jail time, and lasting collateral consequences like employment barriers or license suspension. As a Joliet criminal defense attorney with over 20 years of experience, including my time as a former Will County prosecutor, I’ve successfully defended hundreds of theft cases, often securing dismissals, reductions, or court supervision to keep clients’ records clean. At the Law Office of Jack L. Zaremba, we handle every level of theft—from retail theft to felony burglary-related charges—in Will County courts. In this blog post, we’ll break down the different types of theft, current penalties, common defenses, and how to protect your future in 2025. For related topics, see our guides on retail theft defense and second chance probation for drug cases .
