Larceny
What Is Larceny?
Larceny is a crime involving the taking of property with the intent of permanently denying the owner of that property or asset. The offense, which has its roots in common law, is listed as a statutory crime throughout the United States.
U.S. law breaks the crime of larceny into several parts. The stolen property must meet the following criteria:
- It must be the tangible personal property of someone else.
- It must be physically taken.
- It must be moved from its starting location.
- It must be removed without the owner's consent.
- It must have some value.
Larceny vs. Theft
While the terms "larceny" and "theft" are often used interchangeably, state laws differ in how they define and interpret the crimes.
"Theft" is a broad term that can include many different crimes, including the theft of non-tangible things like intellectual property and identity and services, as well as personal property.
However, "larceny" is a type of theft that has a narrower definition. In a theft, the property must be something that someone takes possession of and carries away. In larceny, the victim is not physically harmed.
What Are Examples of Larceny?
Examples of larceny range from pocket-picking to shoplifting and from stealing a bicycle to stealing a car. To be considered larceny, the item must not be taken by fraud or by force.
State laws vary on whether larceny is viewed as a misdemeanor or a felony. Many states make this determination based on the value and type of stolen property.
Grand larceny is the term used for the theft of another person's property above a certain value. In some cases, the theft of something worth more than $500 is considered grand larceny. A theft of something valued at under $500 would be considered petty larceny in these states.
The value of the property also determines whether punishment for the crime is a fine, a prison term, or both.
The crime of criminal trespass can be involved in larceny. Some criminals enter or remain on someone else's property with the intention of committing larceny. An example is someone who breaks into a garage to steal a car or enters a construction site to take away equipment.
Here are some common forms of larceny:
- Purse snatching: Grabbing someone's purse and taking it away is one of the most common forms of larceny. However, if force is used and the force instills fear in the victim, the crime may be classified as a robbery.
- Shoplifting: This crime involves removing items from a store without paying for them. If the value of the items is less than about $400, the crime may be considered a misdemeanor rather than a felony. State laws vary on the amount.
- Issuing a false check: In this crime, someone pays for goods or services by writing a check with the knowledge they do not have enough funds to cover the amount.
- Theft from machines: This crime involves stealing money from vending, gaming, laundry machines, or parking meters.
- Pickpocketing: Stealing someone's wallet is either petty or grand larceny, depending on the value of what is taken.
- Theft from an automobile or theft of automobile parts: This category of larceny involves stealing things from the car's interior, such as phones or laptops, or stealing parts of the vehicle itself, such as the catalytic converter or tires.
The punishment for larceny can cover a wide range, depending on state law, the nature of the crime, and the criminal's previous record.
Helpful Resources:
HG.org - What Is the Crime of Larceny?
What Is Larceny?
Larceny is a crime involving the taking of property with the intent of permanently denying the owner of that property or asset. The offense, which has its roots in common law, is listed as a statutory crime throughout the United States.
U.S. law breaks the crime of larceny into several parts. The stolen property must meet the following criteria:
- It must be the tangible personal property of someone else.
- It must be physically taken.
- It must be moved from its starting location.
- It must be removed without the owner's consent.
- It must have some value.
Larceny vs. Theft
While the terms "larceny" and "theft" are often used interchangeably, state laws differ in how they define and interpret the crimes.
"Theft" is a broad term that can include many different crimes, including the theft of non-tangible things like intellectual property and identity and services, as well as personal property.
However, "larceny" is a type of theft that has a narrower definition. In a theft, the property must be something that someone takes possession of and carries away. In larceny, the victim is not physically harmed.
What Are Examples of Larceny?
Examples of larceny range from pocket-picking to shoplifting and from stealing a bicycle to stealing a car. To be considered larceny, the item must not be taken by fraud or by force.
State laws vary on whether larceny is viewed as a misdemeanor or a felony. Many states make this determination based on the value and type of stolen property.
Grand larceny is the term used for the theft of another person's property above a certain value. In some cases, the theft of something worth more than $500 is considered grand larceny. A theft of something valued at under $500 would be considered petty larceny in these states.
The value of the property also determines whether punishment for the crime is a fine, a prison term, or both.
The crime of criminal trespass can be involved in larceny. Some criminals enter or remain on someone else's property with the intention of committing larceny. An example is someone who breaks into a garage to steal a car or enters a construction site to take away equipment.
Here are some common forms of larceny:
- Purse snatching: Grabbing someone's purse and taking it away is one of the most common forms of larceny. However, if force is used and the force instills fear in the victim, the crime may be classified as a robbery.
- Shoplifting: This crime involves removing items from a store without paying for them. If the value of the items is less than about $400, the crime may be considered a misdemeanor rather than a felony. State laws vary on the amount.
- Issuing a false check: In this crime, someone pays for goods or services by writing a check with the knowledge they do not have enough funds to cover the amount.
- Theft from machines: This crime involves stealing money from vending, gaming, laundry machines, or parking meters.
- Pickpocketing: Stealing someone's wallet is either petty or grand larceny, depending on the value of what is taken.
- Theft from an automobile or theft of automobile parts: This category of larceny involves stealing things from the car's interior, such as phones or laptops, or stealing parts of the vehicle itself, such as the catalytic converter or tires.
The punishment for larceny can cover a wide range, depending on state law, the nature of the crime, and the criminal's previous record.
Helpful Resources:
HG.org - What Is the Crime of Larceny?