Theft under $5,000 — section 334(b) of the Criminal Code — is one of the most common convictions in Canada. Shoplifting, taking something from work, a mistake you made at 19. Whatever the circumstances, you can absolutely get a record suspension for it.

Summary or Indictable?

Theft under $5,000 is a hybrid offence. In the vast majority of cases, the Crown proceeds summarily — especially for first offences involving low-value items. But technically, the Crown can elect to proceed by indictment.

If your case was handled in provincial court (Ontario Court of Justice, for example) with no preliminary hearing and no jury, it was almost certainly tried summarily. Your court documents will confirm this.

Why does it matter? Summary = 5-year wait. Indictable = 10-year wait. For a simple shoplifting charge, you're looking at 5 years in almost every case.

When Does the Clock Start?

Your waiting period begins the day your sentence is fully complete. For theft under $5,000, the typical sentence for a first offence is:

A conditional discharge (which clears automatically after 3 years — you might not even need a pardon). A fine of $500-$1,000 plus victim surcharge. Probation of 6-12 months. Community service hours.

The clock starts when the last of these is done. If you got 12 months probation and a $500 fine, and you paid the fine on the last day of probation, your 5-year wait starts from that payment date.

Check If You Even Need a Pardon

Here's something many people don't realize: if you received a conditional discharge or absolute discharge, your conviction automatically clears from your record after 3 years (conditional) or 1 year (absolute). You don't need a record suspension at all.

Look at your court documents. If the disposition says "conditional discharge" rather than "convicted" or "suspended sentence," you may already be clear. Call your local RCMP detachment or do a criminal record check to confirm.

The Application Process

Standard process: get fingerprinted, receive your RCMP record, request certified court documents from the courthouse where you were convicted, get local police checks, write your measurable benefit statement, and mail everything to the PBC with the $50 fee.

For theft specifically, your statement should address the circumstances honestly. The PBC has read thousands of these — they can spot deflection. Acknowledge what happened, explain what's changed, and focus on what you've built since. Stable employment, education, family stability — concrete things.

Don't overthink the statement. I've seen people agonize for weeks trying to sound perfect. The PBC isn't looking for Shakespeare. They want to know you understand what happened, you've moved on, and sealing your record would help you contribute to your community. Two pages, honest and specific. That's it.

Total Cost and Timeline

If you were convicted at one courthouse and have lived in one or two cities, expect about $300-$400 total in government fees. Processing time is around 6 months for summary convictions.

A pardon service company will charge $1,200-$2,000 on top of that. For what is genuinely one of the simplest applications the PBC handles, that's hard to justify. My Pardon walks you through the same process from $299.