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 Indiana, the criminal offense of receiving stolen property is addressed under Indiana Code 35-43-4-2. A person is considered to have committed this offense if they knowingly or intentionally receive, retain, or dispose of stolen property of another person, or if they aid another person in these actions, with the knowledge or belief that the property has been stolen. The severity of the charge in Indiana can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the value of the property received. For property valued under $750, the offense is typically a Class A misdemeanor. However, if the value of the property is $750 or more, the offense can be charged as a Level 6 felony or higher. Additionally, if the person has a prior unrelated conviction for either theft or receiving stolen property, the offense may also be elevated to a felony charge. Indiana law also considers factors such as whether the property is a firearm or if the offense is part of a series of thefts, which can further influence the level of the charge.