A person commits the criminal offense (crime) of theft—also known as stealing—by unlawfully taking or appropriating the property of another person or entity with the intent to deprive the owner of the property.

Taking or appropriating property is generally unlawful if it is done without the owner's effective consent—for example, if the property was taken by threat, deception, or extortion.


In New York, theft is legally referred to as larceny and is defined under the New York Penal Law sections 155.05, 155.25, 155.30, 155.35, and others, depending on the circumstances and value of the property stolen. A person is guilty of larceny when they unlawfully take, obtain, or withhold property from an owner with the intent to deprive the owner of it or appropriate it to themselves or to a third party. Larceny can be committed in several ways, including by trespassory taking, trick, embezzlement, or by obtaining property by false pretenses. The severity of the offense ranges from petit larceny, which is a misdemeanor for property valued at $1,000 or less, to grand larceny, which is a felony and is further divided into four degrees depending on the value of the property stolen or the means by which the property was taken. For example, grand larceny in the fourth degree involves property valued over $1,000 or obtained by certain specified means, while grand larceny in the first degree involves property valued at over $1 million. Additional factors such as stealing from a person, extortion, or the type of property stolen can also affect the classification and severity of the theft charge.