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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
26 thru 30 of 66 comments
On 04/27/06
shane from AL said:
I got caught stealing about $10,000 worth of stuff from various cars, the sherifs impound, and a car dealership. i am now sitting in county jail for 6 months and im on work release with 3 years of probation. trust me its not worth it to steal. i now owe over $20,000 and can only work 2 days a week. PS. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT.
On 03/28/06
TBaby from MD said:
Yo im being charged with theft and consparicy theft, can someone tell me what are the pnalties for this kind of thing? These are my 1st charges
On 01/08/06
Chris from NM said:
I became addicted to stealing... In the past few months i've taken at least $5,000.00 from the mall at various stores. I was caught shoplifting a $90.00 jacket from a store and am banned for life, and i don't even have my court date yet. Trust me, it may seem fun to get stuff for free, but when you get caught, and you WILL get caught, it is soooooo not worth it!
On 08/22/05
Vickie from AZ said:
My Nephews wife has embezeled about $20,000.00 from her employer in Phoenix Arizona. Can someone give me a rough idea as to what this crime would be classified as and what the time served might be and if there might be a fine and how much. Thank you.
On 05/08/04
Sara from AZ said:
ok well answering the girl who said something about not getting the same penalty for the same crime. they can do whatever i got caought for shoplifting about 2 months ago went and saw a p.o. last week and all i have to do is read this site write a one page paper, and i went to a 5hr class today about teens and crimes. once my paper is done im homefree! but there were TONS of kids who shoplifted...and they got 30hrs of community service, got on probation for 6 months and had to pay over $200 in fines for stealing a 5 dollar pair of earrings so w/e the p.o. decides goes. every1 is treated diff.
26 thru 30 of 66 comments



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