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 Minnesota, the criminal offense of receiving stolen property is addressed under Minnesota Statutes Section 609.53. A person is guilty of this offense if they receive, possess, transfer, buy, or conceal any stolen property, knowing or having reason to know the property was stolen, unless the property is received, possessed, transferred, or bought with the intent to restore it to the owner. The severity of the charge, whether misdemeanor or felony, depends on the value of the property received. For property valued at $1,000 or less, it is typically a misdemeanor, but the charge can escalate to a felony for property valued above that amount, with increasing penalties for higher value thresholds. Additionally, Minnesota law also considers it a crime to receive property obtained by robbery or extortion. The specific penalties and charges can vary based on the circumstances of the case and the value of the property involved.