What is considered Petty Theft in California? What are Petty Theft laws and charges?

In California, petty theft is considered stealing anything valued at less than $400 from a merchant. I believe the value of a PS3 is $299, so you should be charged with petty theft. If it was over $400 (perhaps if you stole it when it first came out), that would be considered grand theft and could be punishable by either misdemeanor or felony, and up to 12-16 months in jail.

For a first offense, petty theft laws in CA say you will receive a misdemeanor charge and be on probation for 1 year whether you’re a juvenile or adult. You may not be allowed in that store again for a long while and would be arrested if caught trespassing, and you will probably have to fulfill other obligations such as community service or counseling depending on the overall circumstances. If it was your second offense, it could be a lot worst. There are currently 340 convicted habitual petty theft convicts that are serving 25 years to life in prison in California. 

If there is hard evidence pointing you to committing the crime, such as a video camera, you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Thus, it would be a good idea to speak to a Criminal Defense Attorney. They can properly evaluate the case for you and negotiate much less severe petty theft penalties. If there is no hard evidence, it’s a possibility to have the charge dropped. Lawyers can also help prevent a petty theft conviction from being put on your permanent record.