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 Maine, the criminal offense of receiving stolen property is addressed under the Maine Revised Statutes Title 17-A, Section 359. A person is guilty of receiving stolen property if they intentionally acquire or possess property, knowing or believing it to have been stolen, or if they receive, retain, or dispose of the property with the intent to deprive the owner of it. The severity of the charge in Maine, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, typically depends on the value of the property received. Property valued at $1,000 or less is generally considered a misdemeanor, while property valued above that amount can be charged as a felony. Additionally, Maine law also considers the crime of theft by receiving stolen property, which includes knowingly accepting or acquiring property that one knows or believes to be stolen.