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 Georgia, the offense of receiving stolen property is codified under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) § 16-8-7. A person commits this offense when they knowingly receive, dispose of, or retain stolen property, regardless of whether they were the one who actually stole the item. The law requires that the person must have knowledge that the property was stolen, or they must have reason to believe the property was stolen. The severity of the charge in Georgia, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, typically depends on the value of the stolen property. If the value of the property is $1,500 or less, the offense is considered a misdemeanor. If the value exceeds $1,500, it is treated as a felony, with increasing penalties for higher property values. Additionally, Georgia law also addresses the possession of property obtained by extortion, as well as the concealment or sale of such property, under the same statute.