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 Alabama, the offense of receiving stolen property is codified under Section 13A-8-17 of the Alabama Criminal Code. A person commits the crime of receiving stolen property if they intentionally receive, retain, or dispose of stolen property while knowing that it was stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe it was stolen, unless the property is received, retained, or disposed with intent to restore it to the owner. The severity of the charge in Alabama depends on the value of the property received: it is a Class C felony if the property is valued at more than $2,500, a Class D felony if the value is between $1,500 and $2,500, and a Class A misdemeanor if the value is less than $1,500. Additionally, receiving stolen property is considered a Class B felony if the property consists of a firearm, controlled substance, or if the receiver has been convicted of theft or receiving stolen property within the past 10 years, regardless of the property's value. Alabama law also addresses the receipt of property obtained by extortion, which can similarly lead to criminal charges.