Bail for a theft arrest in California depends on the charge and the county. In San Diego County, scheduled bail for a first-offense petty theft is $1,000. In Riverside County, felony grand theft is scheduled at $20,000. A bail bond usually costs a fraction of that amount, and a licensed agent can start the process at any hour. This guide explains how theft bail is set, what the numbers look like, what a bond costs, and what your family needs to do next.
TL;DR
- Each county sets its own bail schedule, so the same theft charge can carry different bail in San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
- Petty theft is usually a misdemeanor with lower bail. Grand theft, burglary and repeat offenses can bring felony-level amounts.
- The California Department of Insurance says a bail bond most commonly costs 10% of the bond amount, plus reasonable expenses.
- At the first court appearance a judge, not the schedule, sets bail and can go higher or lower.
- Paying bail gets someone out of jail. It does not end the case, and every court date still has to be kept.
Table of Contents
- How California classifies theft
- How bail is set for a theft arrest
- Theft bail amounts by county
- Prop 36 and repeat theft charges
- Bond or cash: what theft bail costs
- Getting someone out: the steps
- When to call us
- What happens after release
- Our perspective
- FAQ
- Sources
How California classifies theft
Bail starts with the charge, and the charge starts with the value of what was allegedly taken. Under Penal Code section 490.2, theft of property worth $950 or less is petty theft and is generally a misdemeanor, with statutory exceptions. Above that line, the charge is grand theft, which prosecutors can file as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
The label matters because it drives everything else: the scheduled bail, whether the person is released with a citation or booked, and how a judge views the case at the first hearing. A practitioner summary of Penal Code section 484 reports that ordinary petty theft is punishable by up to six months in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine, while grand theft carries much greater exposure.
Several other offenses sit in the same family and are often booked together with theft:
- Petty theft and shoplifting, usually the lowest bail tier.
- Grand theft, based on value or the type of property.
- Burglary, which is entering a structure with intent to steal. We cover it separately in our guide to burglary bail in California.
- Embezzlement, treated as a form of theft. See embezzlement bail in California.
- Identity theft, covered in identity theft bail in California.
How bail is set for a theft arrest
There are two stages, and families are often surprised by the difference.
Before the first court appearance. Under Penal Code section 1269b, bail is the amount on the arrest warrant. If there is no warrant, it is the amount in the uniform countywide bail schedule for the county where the person must appear. The same law requires each county's Superior Court judges to adopt that schedule and revise it every year.
At the first appearance. The judge sets bail. According to Solano County Superior Court guidance, the judge, not the schedule, makes the decision and may set bail higher or lower than the scheduled amount. At arraignment, the California Courts Self-Help Guide explains, a judge may release the person on their own recognizance, release them under supervision, set bail, or keep them in custody.
Two practical points follow:
- The county that matters is the one where the case will be heard. San Diego's schedule says it applies only to Superior Court matters in San Diego County, and one county's schedule is not interchangeable with another's.
- Warrants change the picture. Riverside's schedule says it is not mandatory in warrant cases, where bail is set under Penal Code section 1275 principles and is up to the magistrate.
If the person is also facing other charges, the total can add up. Our article on bail for multiple charges explains stacking. San Diego's schedule notes that charges may be stacked, except where a greater offense, an indivisible transaction or the same stolen property makes stacking inapplicable.
Theft bail amounts by county
The numbers below come straight from two official county schedules. Amounts are scheduled bail, not what a family pays a bondsman.
| Charge | San Diego County (effective Jan. 1, 2026) | Riverside County (effective Oct. 24, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Petty theft | $1,000 first offense, $2,000 second, $5,000 third | $2,500 (cite and release) |
| Misdemeanor grand theft | $5,000 | $5,000 (book and release) |
| Felony grand theft | See the schedule | $20,000 (book and release) |
| Misdemeanor burglary | $5,000 | $5,000 (second-degree) |
| Felony burglary, second degree | See the schedule | $20,000 |
| First-degree residential burglary | See the schedule | $40,000 |
Sources: the San Diego 2026 bail schedule and the Riverside felony and misdemeanor bail schedule.
What about San Bernardino County?
San Bernardino County follows the same state rule: its Superior Court adopts its own schedule each year. For an exact figure on a theft charge, ask the jail's booking staff or call us with the person's name and we can run a free inmate search and tell you the bail amount on file. Our walkthrough of the San Bernardino bail process shows what to expect locally.
Reading the schedule correctly
Riverside's schedule sorts offenses into four groups: cite and release, book and release, pre-arraignment review, and arraignment review. For arraignment-review offenses, scheduled bail may be posted before arraignment, and a judicial officer then reviews bail and custody at the hearing. In practice, a person could be released on a bond and then see the conditions or amount revisited in court.
The schedule also tells you something about speed. A cite-and-release offense may never involve a bond at all. A book-and-release offense usually does, and it is where a quick call to a bail agent saves the most time.
Prop 36 and repeat theft charges
Theft rules changed in late 2024. California Penal Code section 666.1, added by Proposition 36 and effective December 18, 2024, provides enhanced punishment for petty theft or shoplifting after two or more specified prior convictions. It also requires judicial review before release, so the court makes an individualized determination of risk and likelihood of appearing.
For a family, that means a person with prior theft convictions may not be able to simply post scheduled bail and walk out. A judge may need to see them first. If you know the person has priors, tell the agent when you call. It helps us explain what to expect and how long the wait could be.
Bond or cash: what theft bail costs
There are two ways to post bail when it is allowed:
- Full cash bail. You pay the whole amount to the court or jail. According to the Santa Clara County Sheriff, cash is generally returned in about four to six weeks after all proceedings are done, but it is forfeited if the person does not complete them.
- A bail bond. A licensed agent posts a surety bond for you and charges a nonrefundable fee. The California Department of Insurance describes bail bonds as surety bonds posted by licensed bail agents representing licensed surety insurers, guaranteeing appearance at every required court date. It says the cost is most commonly 10% of the bond amount, plus actual, necessary and reasonable expenses.
A worked example
Take a Riverside County felony grand theft arrest with scheduled bail of $20,000. Paying cash means finding $20,000 up front and waiting weeks to get it back. With the 10% figure the Department of Insurance calls most common, a bond fee would be $2,000, before any reasonable expenses. For the same arrest in San Diego County at a $5,000 misdemeanor grand theft schedule, 10% would be $500. These are illustrations of the state's common figure, not a quote. We give you the exact number for your case on the phone, in plain terms, before you sign anything.
Spreading the cost
The fee is the part families worry about most. We offer flexible no-interest payment plans, so the cost does not have to land in one lump. Ask about the plan when you call, and we will explain how it works for your situation.
Getting someone out: the steps
- Find the person and the charge. Booking staff can share the charges, any warrants or holds, the first court date and the projected release date. You can also use our free inmate and warrant search.
- Confirm the bail amount. It is either the warrant amount or the county schedule amount until a judge acts.
- Call a licensed agent. Have the full legal name, date of birth and the jail where the person is held. We answer 24/7, and a licensed agent picks up personally, not a call center.
- Complete the paperwork. The person who signs, called the indemnitor, agrees to make sure the defendant attends court. Paperwork can often be handled remotely.
- Wait for processing. Release times depend on the jail's workload, the hour and any holds. We aim for fast releases, often within the hour, but jails control the final timing.
- Go over the court dates. Before the person walks out, make sure the family knows the arraignment date and where to appear.
If you are choosing between a bond and release without bail, read our comparison of own recognizance vs. bail. For the bigger picture of who decides what, see who sets bail in California.
What can slow release down
- A warrant from another county, or a hold on the person.
- A felony arrest that needs judicial review before bail can be posted, as with some repeat theft cases.
- A 1275 hold, which can delay release while the source of bail money is reviewed. We offer 1275 hold consultations to help families prepare the documents and understand the timeline.
- Late-night bookings, when jail processing is slower.
- Incomplete information about the person's name, booking number or location.
When to call us
If someone you love was arrested for theft anywhere in California, including San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, you do not need to work out the schedule on your own. Abaasy Bail Bonds provides bail and surety bonds for misdemeanor and felony charges, 24/7 emergency bail, bilingual Spanish support, free inmate and warrant searches, no-interest payment plans and 1275 hold consultations. We also work with attorneys on behalf of clients.
Start at Abaasy Bail Bonds, call any hour, and a licensed agent will tell you the bail amount, the cost and the next step. Hablamos español.
What happens after release
Posting bail ends the jail stay, not the case. The Self-Help Guide on arraignment makes clear that release keeps the obligation to attend later proceedings and follow court conditions. It also gives the timelines: misdemeanor trials generally must start within 45 days for people out of custody and 30 days for people in custody, subject to exceptions. Felony cases generally go to a preliminary hearing first.
When the court orders supervised release, the rules stay in force. Santa Clara County Pretrial Services says conditions last until charges are dismissed or discharged, the person is sentenced, or the person is acquitted, unless the court orders otherwise. It also warns that missing contact, breaking conditions or missing court can lead to revoked release, a return to custody or an arrest warrant.
Conditions differ by charge. For a look at how conditions and compliance work in another kind of case, see this overview of bail on domestic violence charges. The common thread is the same: the person has to follow every instruction to stay out.
A few habits protect the person and the family member who signed:
- Put every court date in a phone calendar and on paper.
- Keep the bail agent's number and your contact details up to date. If anything changes, tell us.
- Ask a defense attorney about the next steps. We work with attorneys and can coordinate with yours.
- Show up early, dressed for court, with ID.
Our perspective
Theft cases are some of the most stressful calls we get, because the charge often looks small until the schedule, the priors and the county rules are put together. A first-time petty theft can be a quick release. A felony grand theft or a repeat case after Prop 36 can involve a judge and a longer wait. Families deserve to know which situation they are in.
That is why we answer every call personally, around the clock, with no call center in between. We tell you the bail amount, the fee and the payment plan up front, in English or Spanish, so there are no surprises after you sign. Our no-interest payment plans exist so a family can say yes to a release without draining savings in one night.
When a 1275 hold or an attorney is involved, we guide you through it. A bond is not just a form. It is a quick, orderly way to get someone home and back with the people who matter while the case moves forward.
william
FAQ
How much is bail for petty theft in California?
It depends on the county. San Diego County's 2026 schedule lists $1,000 for a first offense, $2,000 for a second and $5,000 for a third. Riverside County's schedule lists $2,500. A judge can change the amount at the first appearance.
Is grand theft bail higher than petty theft bail?
Usually, yes. Riverside's schedule lists misdemeanor grand theft at $5,000 and felony grand theft at $20,000. Prosecutors can file grand theft as a misdemeanor or a felony, which is why the amount can differ so much between cases.
How much does a theft bail bond cost?
The California Department of Insurance says the cost is most commonly 10% of the bond amount, plus reasonable expenses. On a $5,000 bail, that would be $500 at the common rate. Call us for the exact figure and ask about our no-interest payment plans.
Can someone be released on a theft charge without paying bail?
Sometimes. At arraignment a judge may release a person on their own recognizance or under supervision. Petty theft can also be handled by citation in some counties. If you are unsure which applies, call us and we will check the person's status.
Does posting bail end the case?
No. Bail only secures release while the case continues. The person must attend every hearing and follow any conditions, or the court can revoke release or issue a warrant.
Sources
- California Penal Code section 1269b
- California Penal Code section 666.1
- California Penal Code section 490.2
- Penal Code section 484(a), petty theft
- The arraignment, California Courts Self-Help Guide
- Bail Information, Superior Court of California, County of Solano
- 2026 Bail Schedule, San Diego Superior Court
- Felony and Misdemeanor Bail Schedule, Riverside Superior Court
- Bail Bonds, California Department of Insurance
- Administrative Booking, Santa Clara County Sheriff
- Pretrial supervision, Santa Clara County Pretrial Services