Washington, D.C. Theft and Shoplifting Laws

If you're looking for a Washington, D.C. online theft or shoplifting class, it's important to know your Washington, D.C. theft laws. This can help you understand more about your offense.

Please note that the Washington, D.C. theft and shoplifting laws shown on this page are to help you to understand your local Washington, D.C. theft, shoplifting and stealing laws. While we have tried to show the most up-to-date version of Washington, D.C. theft laws, we do not guarantee its accuracy. This page is not a substitute for legal advice from a lawyer. We suggest that you find an appropriate attorney for more information about Washington, D.C. theft laws.

Washington, D.C. Theft and Shoplifting Laws

Theft and shoplifting in Washington, D.C., can carry different penalties depending on the charge, the value of the property, and a person's prior theft convictions. Taking a low-cost item can still have serious consequences, especially when earlier convictions or multiple thefts are involved.

The explanations below cover D.C.'s theft and shoplifting laws in everyday language, including the current penalties and rules for repeat offenses. Information checked against the official D.C. Code on October 8, 2026.

What Counts as Theft in Washington, D.C.?

Under D.C. law, theft means wrongfully taking or using someone else's property with the intention of keeping the owner from using or benefiting from it, or using it for yourself or someone else. It includes taking an item without permission, but it also covers obtaining property through deception or misusing property someone has entrusted to you.

For example, taking money you were supposed to hold for someone else can qualify as theft. So can using a false story to get someone to hand over property. The law looks at both what happened and the person's intent. An accusation alone does not establish that someone committed theft. D.C. Code § 22-3211.

Can Leaving Without Paying for a Service Be Theft?

Yes. D.C.'s theft law also covers services. Leaving without paying can serve as evidence of theft when someone knows, or has reason to believe, that payment is required and that the bill remains unpaid. This rule applies when payment would normally happen immediately after the service or before leaving.

There is a specific exception: a fare violation covered by D.C. Code § 35-252 does not itself count as theft under this section. D.C. Code § 22-3211.

First-Degree Theft: Property Worth $1,000 or More

First-degree theft applies when the property taken or wrongfully used is worth $1,000 or more. The maximum prison sentence is 10 years. Under D.C.'s general fine schedule, the standard maximum fine for an individual is $25,000. A court can impose imprisonment, a fine, or both. D.C. Code § 22-3212 and § 22-3571.01.

The $1,000 threshold can also be reached through multiple thefts. If someone commits theft at least twice within six months and the combined value reaches $1,000, those thefts may be combined into one first-degree theft charge.

For example, two thefts involving $600 in property each within that period could meet the threshold even though neither incident involves $1,000 on its own. D.C. Code § 22-3212.

Second-Degree Theft: Lower-Value Property

Second-degree theft generally applies to lower-value property, although the statute describes it as property that has “some value.” The ordinary maximum sentence is 180 days in jail. The standard maximum fine for an individual is $1,000, and the court can impose both jail time and a fine.

These are maximum penalties, rather than a prediction of the sentence in any particular case. Qualifying prior theft convictions can also change the penalties substantially. D.C. Code § 22-3212 and § 22-3571.01.

How Prior Theft Convictions Affect the Penalties

A person convicted of first- or second-degree theft who has at least two qualifying prior theft convictions from separate occasions can face up to 15 years in prison. If imprisonment is imposed under this repeat-offense provision, the law requires a minimum of one year before release, probation, or suspension of the sentence. The standard maximum fine for an individual under the general schedule is $37,500.

Qualifying convictions can include theft or larceny convictions from other jurisdictions. This means even a lower-value theft can expose someone with the required record to much more serious penalties. D.C. Code § 22-3212 and § 22-3571.01.

What Counts as Shoplifting in D.C.?

Shoplifting involves merchandise offered for sale and an intention to take it without paying the full price or to cheat the owner out of its value. It can include knowingly hiding or taking possession of merchandise, changing or removing a price tag or identifying mark, or moving merchandise into another display container or sales package.

Switching an expensive item's price tag with a cheaper one is an example. Hiding merchandise with the required intent can also qualify, so leaving the store is not always necessary for the offense to be complete.

The statute says an attempt to commit this particular shoplifting offense is not itself an offense. That does not excuse conduct that already meets the definition above. D.C. Code § 22-3213.

What Are the Penalties for Shoplifting?

A conviction under D.C.'s specific shoplifting statute carries up to 90 days in jail, a standard maximum fine of $500 for an individual, or both. That fine comes from the current general fine schedule; the older $300 figure is outdated. D.C. Code § 22-3213 and § 22-3571.01.

A retail incident can also lead to a theft charge. The U.S. Attorney's Office has charged retail theft as second-degree theft with increased penalties for qualifying prior convictions. The charge matters when determining which penalties apply. U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C..

Can Store Employees Detain Someone Suspected of Shoplifting?

D.C. law gives merchants and their employees protection from certain civil claims when they detain someone under specific conditions. They must have reasonable grounds to believe the person committed shoplifting in their presence, handle the detention reasonably, and notify law enforcement within a reasonable time.

They must also release the person or turn them over to law enforcement within a reasonable time. These conditions matter; suspicion alone does not give a store unlimited authority to hold someone. D.C. Code § 22-3213.

D.C.'s Law on Directing Organized Retail Theft

D.C. also has a separate felony offense for organizing retail theft by recruiting, directing, or pressuring others to participate. It concerns theft carried out with at least one other person, involving merchandise worth more than $1,000 combined over 90 days, with the intent to sell, barter, trade, or fraudulently return it.

The maximum prison sentence is 15 years, and the standard maximum fine for an individual is $37,500. The court can impose both. This provision was added in 2024. D.C. Code § 22-3211.01 and § 22-3571.01.

Can a Store Seek Money Separately From a Criminal Case?

Yes. D.C. law allows a merchant to seek civil damages for theft or shoplifting. This is a separate claim for money, and the law does not require a criminal conviction or guilty plea before the merchant can bring it.

Paying civil damages does not prevent criminal prosecution. A demand for payment and a criminal charge therefore need separate attention. D.C. Code § 27-102 and § 27-103.

Can Theft Fines Exceed the Amounts Listed Above?

In some cases, yes. D.C. law permits a higher fine based on twice the financial gain from the offense or twice the financial loss it caused, whichever is greater. To exceed the general fine schedule on that basis, the gain or loss must be included in the formal charge and proved beyond a reasonable doubt. D.C. Code § 22-3571.02.

This page provides general education about D.C. law. For questions about a specific charge, a D.C. attorney can explain how the law applies to the facts and the person's record.

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