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 South Carolina, the offense of receiving stolen goods is codified under South Carolina Code of Laws Section 16-13-180. A person is guilty of this offense if they buy, receive, or possess stolen goods, chattels, or other property, knowing at the time that they were stolen, or having reason to believe them to be stolen. The severity of the charge in South Carolina depends on the value of the stolen property. If the value of the property is $2,000 or less, the offense is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a fine. If the value is more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, it is a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. For property valued at $10,000 or more, the crime is a felony with a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The state also recognizes the crime of receiving stolen goods as a continuing offense, meaning that the possession of stolen goods over a period of time can be treated as a separate offense for each day the goods are held.