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 New Hampshire, the crime of receiving stolen property is addressed under RSA 637:7. A person is guilty of receiving stolen property if they knowingly receive, retain, or dispose of another person's property with the intent to deprive the owner of it, knowing that it has been stolen, or believing that it was probably stolen. The severity of the charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, typically depends on the value of the property received. For property with a value of $1,000 or less, the offense is a misdemeanor. If the value exceeds $1,000, the offense is a felony. New Hampshire law also considers factors such as prior offenses and the circumstances of the crime when determining the level of the charge. Additionally, the state's laws do not limit the offense to property obtained solely by theft but may also include property obtained by extortion.