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Theft

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Theft

In Minnesota, THEFT is a serious crime and can have detrimental consequences on your future. It is imperative that you get in touch with a competent lawyer in order to determine your next steps. We can help—contact us today at 651-364-1508 to discuss your theft case.

Under MN Statute 609.52, theft includes, but is not limited to, the following actions:

  • intentionally taking, using, transferring, concealing or retaining possession of someone else’s movable property without their consent and with the intent of depriving the owner of it permanently, or
  • deceiving another person with or without the use of false representation in order to obtain or possess their property or to receive services from them, or
  • finding lost property and keeping it, despite knowing or having the means to locate and return it to the owner, or
  • altering, removing, or obliterating numbers or symbols placed on movable property for the purposes of identification by either the owner or person who has legal custody or right to possession without their permission, therefore preventing identification, or
  • with the intent of preventing the identification of property involved, so as to deprive the rightful owner of possession thereof, alters or removes any permanent serial number, permanent distinguishing number or manufacturer’s identification number on personal property or possesses, sells or buys any personal property knowing or having reason to know that the number has been removed or altered, or
  • intentionally depriving another person of cable television or other telecommunication services, through an unauthorized connection whether by physical, electrical, radio, wire, microwave, or other means, or
  • takes or drives a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner or an authorized agent of the owner, knowing or having reason to know that they did not give consent, or
  • intentionally taking motor fuel from a retailer without the retailer’s consent and driving a motor vehicle from the premises of the retailer without having paid for the fuel, or
  • committing wage theft, identity theft, mail theft.

Sentencing

The severity level of these offenses depends on the monetary value of the possession stolen. Generally speaking:

  • stealing something with a monetary value of $500 or less carries a sentence to imprisonment of no more than 90 days and/or to payment of a fine of no more than $1,000, or
  • for property with a value greater than $500 and less than $1,000, sentencing to imprisonment is for no more than 1 year and/or to payment of a fine of no more than $3,000, or
  • for property with a value greater than $1,000 but less than $5,000, sentencing to imprisonment is for no more than 5 years and/or to payment of a fine of no more than $10,000, or
  • if the value of the stolen property or services exceeds $5,000, or if the property stolen was a trade secret, an explosive or incendiary device, or a controlled substance other than marijuana, sentencing to imprisonment is for no more than 10 years and/or to payment of a fine that is no more than $20,000, or
  • if the stolen property is a firearm, or the value of the stolen property or services is greater than $35,000, then the sentence to imprisonment is for no more than 20 years and/or to payment of a fine is no more than $100,000.

What should I do?

If you have been charged with an alleged theft offense, contact us now at 651-364-1508 to see how we can help with your case.

Frequently Asked Question

  • Minnesota law makes it a crime to operate a motor vehicle and they define the term motor vehicle as “every vehicle that is self-propelled and every vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires. the term includes motorboats in operation and off-road recreation vehicles, but does not include a vehicle moved solely by human power. So your ATV’s, electric scooters and bikes, boats, jetskis, and yes, even your tractors, are fair game.