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 Pennsylvania, the offense of receiving stolen property is codified under Title 18, Section 3925 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. A person is guilty of this offense if they intentionally receive, retain, or dispose of movable property of another knowing that it has been stolen, or believing that it has probably been stolen, unless the property is received, retained, or disposed with the intent to restore it to the owner. The grading of the offense in Pennsylvania depends on the value of the property received, with the crime being classified as a misdemeanor or a felony. For property valued at less than $50, the offense is a third-degree misdemeanor. The offense is graded as a second-degree misdemeanor for property valued at $50 to $200, and a first-degree misdemeanor for property valued at $200 to $2,000. If the value exceeds $2,000, or if the property received is a firearm or a motor vehicle, the offense is classified as a felony. Additionally, receiving stolen property can also be a third-degree felony if the accused has a prior conviction for theft or a crime of dishonesty.