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 Ohio, the offense of receiving stolen property is codified under Ohio Revised Code Section 2913.51. A person is guilty of this offense if they receive, retain, or dispose of property of another knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the property has been obtained through theft. The severity of the charge, whether misdemeanor or felony, typically depends on the value or type of the stolen property. For property worth less than $1,000, it is generally considered a misdemeanor of the first degree. However, the offense becomes a felony of varying degrees when the value exceeds $1,000, with higher values leading to more severe charges. Additionally, receiving stolen property that is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, a motor vehicle, or any property obtained by force, threat, or deception from an elderly person or disabled adult is automatically classified as a felony, regardless of the property's value. Ohio law also addresses the receipt of property obtained by extortion, aligning with the broader definition of receiving stolen property.
