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Question: What are the penalties for theft?

Answer: Arizona law (Chapter 18 of Title 13 of the Arizona Revised Statutes 13-1801 through 13-1818) provides different penalties for theft, depending on the amount that was stolen and, in some cases, what was taken.The penalties for theft of property, money, or services is as follows:

1. Theft of less than $250.00 is a Class 1 Misdemeanor for which a person can receive a maximum of six months in jail, $2,500.00 fine and probation.

2. Theft of property of a value of $250.00 but less than $1,000.00 is a Class 6 Felony for which a person can be sent to prison for up to two years or put on probation and put in the county jail for up to one year. The maximum fine is $150,000.00.

3. Theft of property of a value of $1,000.00 to $2,000.00 is a Class 5 Felony for which a person can be sent to prison for a maximum of two-and-a-half years or put on probation and sent to the county jail for a maximum of one year. The maximum fine is $150,000.00.

4. Theft of property of a value of $2,000.00 but less than $3,000.00 is a Class 4 Felony for which a person can be sent to prison for a maximum of 3.75 years or put on probation and sent to the county jail for a maximum of one year. The maximum fine is $150,000.00.

5. Theft of property of a value between $3,000.00 and $25,000.00 is a Class 3 Felony for which a person can be sent to prison for a maximum of 8.75 years or put on probation and sent to the county jail for a maximum of one year. The maximum fine is $150,000.00.

6. Theft of property of a value over $25,000.00 is a Class 2 Felony for which a person can be sent to prison for a maximum of 12.5 years or put on probation and sent to the county jail for a maximum of one year. The maximum fine is $150,000.00.

Theft of any gun is a Class 6 Felony, even if the value of the gun was less than $250.00.

Shoplifting is a form of theft in which something is stolen from a store. It is not necessary to actually leave the store in order to be convicted of shoplifting. Shoplifting can occur by switching price tags, transferring goods from one container to another, or hiding the goods, even though the person never actually ever leaves the store.

Like theft, shoplifting property valued at $250.00 or less is a Class 1 Misdemeanor, unless it is a gun, in which case it is treated as a Class 6 Felony. Shoplifting of a value over $250.00 but under $2,500.00 is a Class 6 Felony. Shoplifting of a value over $2,500.00 is a Class 5 Felony.

In addition to the criminal penalties, Arizona law allows the store owner to collect the value of the goods that were stolen, plus $100.00, from the parent of any minor who is caught shoplifting.

*The answer does not include related charges such as robbery, credit card fraud, white collar crimes, consumer fraud or similar crimes which have a theft element to them.


Comments
46 thru 50 of 66 comments
On 08/13/03
Johnny from AZ said:
well either they'll make you pay back the money you took and fire you or they could press charges and give you probation or even jail time.
On 07/24/03
john from CA said:
i think instead of pressing charges they should just ban u from the store. everytime i watch a show and someone gets caught for shoplifing, all they get is a slap on the hand. TV is leading a bad example on the consequences of shoplifting.
On 06/03/03
tor from AZ said:
plead not guilty
On 05/28/03
scared from Othe said:
im involved in something like this too... only mine is like $3000 im so scared.. i wonder what is going to happen to me as well
On 05/07/03
anthony from CA said:
My friend were suspects of car theft and child abduction and carying a deadly weapon. Although it wasnt them some guy showed up with the police saying they matched the suspects and were taken to jail for two days.Later they were released. Although it wasnt them, they have to go back to court. If they are guilty they go in for something they didnt do. My friends know it was not them because they were all together at the time this happened. What can be done to prevent them from going to jail?
46 thru 50 of 66 comments



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