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 Missouri, the offense of receiving stolen property is outlined under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 570.080. A person commits this offense if they knowingly receive, retain, or dispose of property of another knowing that it has been stolen, or believing that it was probably stolen. The determination of whether the offense is a misdemeanor or a felony in Missouri depends on the value of the property. If the value of the property is less than $750, it is generally considered a Class A misdemeanor. However, if the value is $750 or more, the offense can be charged as a felony, with the degree of the felony increasing with the value of the property. Additionally, Missouri law also considers it a crime to traffic in stolen identities, which can be related to receiving stolen property when it involves the use of stolen personal information.