Burglary is the type of crime that can lead to you being charged with a felony, but it depends on the value of the merchandise that was stolen. If you are on the run after being considered a suspect in a burglary that you are, in act, guilty of, it might be time for you to face the crime. You must understand that you will only get yourself into deeper trouble by continuing to evade the authorities. Take a look at this article to learn what can be done to increase your chance of getting a lower sentence for your crime.

1. Return the Merchandise

One of the best ways to prove that you are remorseful for your crime is to make an effort to apologize. The store that the merchandise was stolen from suffered a financial loss because of your actions. To create a better image of yourself, you might want to visit the store to return the merchandise. If you are too afraid to visit the store, you can ask someone that you trust to return the merchandise on your behalf. Be sure to include a note to explain that you are sorry for taking the merchandise.

2. Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer

The main thing that must be done to reduce the chance of you receiving the maximum sentence for burglary is to hire a lawyer. Be sure that he or she specializes in criminal defense cases, as there will be a higher chance of satisfactory results in the end. The lawyer will take a look at your criminal records to determine the best way to go about handling your case. He or she might be able to get you a sentence that is as simple as probation and community service duties if you are a first time offender. However, if you have a lengthy criminal history, the lawyer will try to bring out your good qualities in court to at least decrease the amount of time that you will spend in jail.

3. Turn Yourself in to the Authorities

Your last step should be to turn yourself in to the authorities. You being cooperative with the authorities and truthful about your crime can have a big impact on how you are sentenced. After you are locked up, it is also possible that your bond amount will be lower due to your cooperation. Honesty goes far when it comes to confessing to a crime.