Larceny

Larceny is the legal term for theft. There are many different forms of larceny, but its basic definition is the taking of someone else’s property from a location other than their home and without the use of force. Larceny is distinguished from robbery, which includes the use or threat of force, and burglary, which involves unlawfully entering a home or other property in order to take something.

Degrees of Larceny

Oklahoma law divides larceny into two degrees: grand and petit.

• Grand larceny occurs when the property involved exceeds $1,000 in value or when the property is taken from the person of another, regardless of the value
• Petit larceny involves the theft of property valued at less than $500

Penalties

The penalties associated with larceny depend on the circumstances of the case and whether the charge is grand or petit larceny.

• Grand larceny is a felony and carries a potential prison sentence of five years, a fine of up to $5,000 and an order to pay restitution if the value exceeded $1,000; if the value did not exceed $1,000, the prison sentence may not exceed one year and the fine may be up to $1,000
• Petit larceny is a misdemeanor punishable by a jail sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to $500

Types of Larceny

Oklahoma laws cover a wide range of larceny crimes, including:

• Larceny of a passage ticket such as airline or train ticket
• Larceny of dogs, fish, domestic fowl or game
• Larceny of trade secrets
• Larceny of cable or telecommunications services
• Larceny of gas (pump pirate)