Updated September 2026
Shoplifting and petit theft arrests are routine in Orlando, and so are the bonds. The amounts are usually small and people are usually out the same day. Call (407) 254-5554 and we will confirm the bond and get it moving.
What the charge actually is
Florida does not have a crime called shoplifting on the books. What a store calls shoplifting is charged as theft under Florida Statute 812.014, and the value of what was taken decides how serious it is.
- Property worth less than $100: petit theft of the second degree, a second degree misdemeanor.
- Property worth $100 or more but less than $750: petit theft of the first degree, a first degree misdemeanor.
- A second theft conviction of any kind: a first degree misdemeanor regardless of value.
- A third or later theft conviction: a third degree felony, again regardless of value.
That escalation catches people out. A $30 item can be a felony if there are two old theft convictions behind it, even if those were years ago and for something completely different.
What the bond usually is
Orange and Osceola County use the bond schedule set by the Ninth Judicial Circuit, currently Administrative Order 2022-03-04 from March 2025. Petit theft is listed by name.
- Petit theft, first offense: $250.
- Petit theft, second offense: $500.
- Felony theft after two or more prior convictions: a third degree felony, $2,500 where no force was involved.
If a store employee was pushed, grabbed or blocked on the way out, the charge is no longer simple theft. It can become robbery by sudden snatching or strong arm robbery, and those are felonies with much higher bonds. We see this a few times a year and it changes the whole picture.
What it costs you
The premium is 10% of the bond with a $100 minimum per charge, set by Florida law. On a $250 or a $500 bond you pay the $100 minimum. It is the fee for writing the bond and is not refundable.
On amounts this small most people simply pay it outright. If you need to spread it, see payment plans.
How fast they get out
Petit theft is one of the fastest bonds we write. There is rarely a hold, the amount is low and the paperwork is short. The wait is almost entirely the jail’s release process, which in Orange County can run up to 12 hours and pauses during headcount and meals.
If the person has a warrant from another county sitting behind the theft charge, posting this bond will not get them out. They stay until that one is handled too. Read about out of county warrants.
What happens to the case afterwards
First time petit theft often ends in a diversion program rather than a conviction, especially for someone with no record, but that is a decision for the prosecutor and a defence lawyer, not for us. What we can tell you is that missing the first court date turns a minor case into a warrant, and then a much bigger problem.
The store may also send a civil demand letter asking for money on top of the criminal case. That is a separate matter from the bond and from the charge.
What we need to get started
- The full name and date of birth of the person in jail.
- Which county they are in.
- A phone number we can reach you on.
That is enough for us to look up the case, confirm the real bond amount and tell you exactly what it costs before you pay anything. Call (407) 254-5554. Our Orlando office is across the street from the Orange County Jail and we answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Rather not call? Start here
Tell us who is in jail and where. Our team calls you straight back, any hour of the day.
Other counties
We write bonds across Central Florida. Orange and Osceola share one bond schedule. Seminole, Brevard and other counties set their own, so the number can be different for the same charge. We have offices in Kissimmee and Sanford, and we post bonds across Brevard County by phone.
Related reading
- What bail actually costs in Florida, and the two laws that decide it.
- When does my obligation as a cosigner end?
General information, not legal advice. Bond amounts change and a judge can always set a different amount than the schedule.