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 Kentucky, the crime of receiving stolen property is codified under Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 514.110. A person is guilty of this offense if they receive, retain, or dispose of movable property of another knowing that it has been stolen, unless the property is received, retained, or disposed with the intent to restore it to the owner. The seriousness of the charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, typically depends on the value of the property received. If the value of the property is less than $500, it is considered a misdemeanor. If the value is $500 or more but less than $10,000, it is a Class D felony, and if the value is $10,000 or more, it is a Class C felony. Additionally, Kentucky law also addresses the receipt of property obtained by extortion. The penalties for receiving stolen property can include fines, imprisonment, or both, and the severity of the penalties increases with the value of the property involved.