A person commits the criminal offense of receiving stolen property if the person buys or receives any property knowing that it has been stolen. Laws regarding receiving stolen property vary from state to state and some states also make it a crime to receive property obtained by extortion, or to conceal, sell, withhold, or aid in concealing, selling, or withholding any property from the owner, knowing the property was stolen or obtained by extortion, for example.

The criminal offense of receiving stolen property may be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony in many states (a wobbler offense)—usually depending on the value of the stolen property.

Laws regarding receiving stolen property are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Arizona, the crime of trafficking in stolen property is addressed under Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) §13-2307. A person commits this offense if they recklessly traffic in the property of another that has been stolen, or if they knowingly initiate, organize, plan, finance, direct, manage, or supervise the theft and trafficking of the property of another. The severity of the charge depends on the circumstances, with knowingly engaging in trafficking being a class 2 felony, and recklessly trafficking in stolen property being a class 3 felony. The value of the stolen property can influence the classification of the offense and the potential penalties. Arizona does not categorize the offense as a misdemeanor or felony based on the property's value alone, but rather on the nature of the trafficking behavior. It is important for individuals accused of this crime to consult with an attorney to understand the specific charges and potential defenses.