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 Texas, the offense of receiving stolen property is covered under the Texas Penal Code, specifically in the section dealing with theft. A person commits this offense if they intentionally or knowingly receive, possess, conceal, or dispose of stolen property while being aware that it was stolen or believing it was probably stolen. The seriousness of the charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, typically depends on the value of the property received. For property valued at less than $2,500, the offense may be charged as a misdemeanor. If the value is $2,500 or more, the offense can be charged as a felony. The exact classification and penalties are further detailed in the Texas Penal Code, which provides a graduated scale based on the value of the property. Additionally, Texas law also addresses the receipt of property that was acquired by other means of illegal activity, such as extortion.
