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 Connecticut, the crime of receiving stolen property is codified under Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-119 and § 53a-129. A person is guilty of this offense if they receive, retain, or dispose of stolen property knowing it to be stolen or believing it to be probably stolen. The intent to deprive the owner of his or her property or to appropriate the same to oneself or a third person is also a necessary element of the crime. The severity of the charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, typically depends on the value of the property involved. For property valued at less than $1,000, the offense is considered a misdemeanor. If the value exceeds $1,000, the offense can be charged as a felony, with the degree of the felony increasing with the value of the property. Additionally, Connecticut law also addresses the receipt of property obtained by extortion. The state's statutes provide clear guidelines on the penalties and classifications for the crime of receiving stolen property, reflecting the seriousness with which the state treats this offense.