Practice Areas

• Accessory After the Fact
• Arson
• Assault & Battery
• Battery on a Peace Officer
• Assault with a Firearm
• Battery
• Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• Bail Review & Reduction
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon
• Child Endangerment
• Conspiracy
• Criminal Threats
• Domestic Violence
• Driving with A Suspended License
• Drug Possession
• Marijuana Possession for Sales
• Drug Possession for Personal Use
• Drug Possession for Sale
• DUI Defense
• I've been arrested for DUI. What happens to my Driver's License?
• DUI Under 21
• The 'Rising Blood Alcohol' Defense
• Attacking the Breath Test
• The "No Driving" Defense
• I've been arrested & cited for DUI? What happens next?
• Attacking the Blood Test
• Elder Abuse
• Embezzlement
• Expungements
• Hit and Run
• Housing Violations
• Juvenile Defense
• License Defense
• Nursing License Defense
• Murder
• Police Misconduct Litigation
• Pre-Filing Investigations
• Professional & Vocational License Defense
• Prostitution
• Public Intoxication
• Sex Crimes
• Indecent Exposure
• Solicitation of Prostitution
• Rape
• Theft Charges
• Robbery
• Purse Snatching
• Burglary
• Petty Theft
• Embezzlement
• Identity Theft
• Three Strikes Law
• Vacating Convictions
• Deportable Offenses: Vacating Your Guilty Plea to Avoid Deportation
• Vandalism
• Vehicular Manslaughter
• Warrant Recall
• Weapons Charges
• Witness Intimidation

What are the best California auto burglary defenses?

Being convicted of auto burglary in California is an extremely serious crime that should not be taken lightly. Fortunately, our expert Torrance criminal defense lawyers are well qualified to defend your rights when it comes to this type of charge.

Auto burglary refers to entering a locked vehicle with the following intent:

• (1) To steal items from inside the vehicle (grand theft or petty theft);
• (2) To steal the vehicle (grand theft auto);
• (3) To commit another felony inside the vehicle.

Depending on your particular auto burglary charge, a California auto theft defense can include the following:

• "It Was Not Your Intent to Steal" Defense: If you were inside a vehicle but did not intend to steal anything from it, then you cannot be convicted of auto burglary. Even if you did break into a car or truck with the intent of stealing valuables or money from the vehicle, a prosecutor will have a difficult time proving this allegation. It should be recognized, though, that it is within the rights of police officers to charge you with auto burglary in this type of situation.

• "The Vehicle Door Was Not Locked" Defense: This type of auto burglary defense is a significant one, as the doors of a vehicle must be locked if you are to be found guilty of automobile burglary in California. To be convicted of this charge, you must alter the physical condition of the vehicle, such as by breaking a window or a seal.

• "You Did Not Have the Intent to Deprive" Defense: This defense is utilized in a situation in which you had no intention of keeping the vehicle in question. Instead, you intended to use the vehicle on a temporary basis and, in turn, had no intent to deprive the owner of his or her vehicle permanently.

• "You Received Consent from the Vehicle's Owner" Defense: You must enter a vehicle without the consent of the owner in order to be charged with auto burglary. Thus, consent from the rightful owner of the car or truck negates this element altogether.

Have you or someone you know been arrested for a DUI charge? Contact McGregor & Ernenwein to obtain a completely free consultation with one of our experienced Torrance criminal defense attorneys.