Oklahoma Theft Laws

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

Please note that the Oklahoma theft laws displayed on this page are to help you to understand your local Oklahoma theft, shoplifting and stealing laws. While we have made every attempt to show the most up-to-date version of Oklahoma theft laws, we do not guarantee its accuracy. This page is not a substitute for legal advice from a lawyer. We suggest that you consult with an appropriate lawyer for more information about Oklahoma theft laws.

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§21 1701. Larceny defined.

Larceny is the taking of personal property accomplished by fraud or stealth, and with intent to deprive another thereof.

§21 1702. Larceny of lost property.

One who finds lost property under circumstances which gives him knowledge or means of inquiry as to the true owner, and who appropriates such property to his own use, or to the use of another person who is not entitled thereto, without having first made such effort to find the owner and restore the property to him as the circumstances render reasonable and just, is guilty of larceny.

§21 1703. Degrees of larceny.

Larceny is divided into two degrees; the first of which is termed grand larceny, the second petit larceny.

§21-1704. Grand and petit larceny defined.

Grand larceny is larceny committed in either of the following cases:

When the property taken is of value exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
When such property, although not of value exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), is taken from the person of another. Larceny in other cases is petit larceny.

§21-1705. Grand larceny a felony.

Grand larceny is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding five (5) years if the value of the property is Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or more and if the value of the property is less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) punishable by incarceration in the county jail for not more than one (1) year or by incarceration in the county jail one or more nights or weekends pursuant to Section 991a-2 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, at the option of the court, and shall be subject to a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and ordered to provide restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991a of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

§21 1706. Punishment for petit larceny.

Petit larceny shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) or more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisonment in the county jail not to six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

§21-1707. Grand larceny in house or vessel a felony.

When it appears upon a trial for grand larceny that the larceny alleged was committed in any dwelling house or vessel, the offender shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding eight (8) years.

§21-1708. Grand larceny in night time from person a felony.

When it appears upon such trial, that such larceny was committed by stealing in the night time, from the person of another, the offender shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding ten (10) years.

§21 1709. Larceny of written instrument Value.

If the thing stolen consists of any evidence of debt or other written instrument, the amount of money due thereon or secured to be paid thereby and remaining unsatisfied, or which in any contingency might be collected thereon, or the value of the property the title to which is shown thereby, or the sum of which might be recovered in the absence thereof, as the case may be, shall be deemed the value of the thing stolen.

§21 1710. Larceny of passage ticket Value.

If the thing stolen is any ticket, or other paper or writing entitling or purporting to entitle the holder or proprietor thereof to a passage upon any railroad, or in any vessel or other public conveyance, the price at which tickets entitling a person to a like passage are usually sold by the proprietors of such conveyance shall be deemed the value of such ticket.

§21-1711. Securities not yet issued or delivered, larceny of.

All the provisions of this article shall apply where the property taken is an instrument for the payment of money, evidence of debt, public security or passage ticket, completed and ready to be issued or delivered, though the same has never been issued or delivered by the makers thereof to any person as a purchaser or owner.

§21 1712. Severed fixture, larceny of.

Any fixture or part of realty, the instant it is severed from the realty becomes personal property, and the subject of larceny within the meaning of this article.

§21-1713. Receiving stolen property - Presumption.

A. Every person who buys or receives, in any manner, upon any consideration, any personal property of any value whatsoever that has been stolen, embezzled, obtained by false pretense or robbery, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the same to have been stolen, embezzled, obtained by false pretense, or robbery, or who conceals, withholds, or aids in concealing or withholding such property from the owner, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not to exceed five (5) years, or in the county jail not to exceed one (1) year, or by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by both such fine and imprisonment.

B. Every person who, without making reasonable inquiry, buys, receives, conceals, withholds, or aids in concealing or withholding any property which has been stolen, embezzled, obtained by false pretense or robbery, or otherwise feloniously obtained, under such circumstances as should cause such person to make reasonable inquiry to ascertain that the person from whom such property was bought or received had the legal right to sell or deliver it shall be presumed to have bought or received such property knowing it to have been so stolen or wrongfully obtained. This presumption may, however, be rebutted by proof.

§21-1713.1. Purchase or receipt of stolen, etc., construction or farm equipment.

Every person who buys or receives, in any manner, upon any consideration, any construction equipment or farm equipment of any value whatsoever that has been stolen, embezzled, obtained by false pretense or robbery, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the same to have been stolen, embezzled, obtained by false pretense, or robbery, or who conceals, withholds, or aids in concealing or withholding such construction equipment or farm equipment from the owner, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term of not more than ten (10) years or by a fine in an amount that is equal to three times the value of the property that was stolen but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) or by both such fine and imprisonment and may be ordered to pay restitution pursuant to Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

§21 1714. Fraudulent consumption of gas.

Every person who, with intent to defraud, makes or causes to be made, any pipe or other instrument or contrivance, and connects the same, or causes it to be connected, with any pipe laid for conducting illuminating gas, so as to conduct gas to a point where the same may be consumed without its passing through the meter providing for registering the quantity consumed, or in any other manner so as to evade paying therefor, and every person who with like intent injures or alters any gas meter, or obstructs its action, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

§21 1715. Bringing stolen property into the State.

Every person who steals the property of another in any other state or country, and brings the same into this state may be convicted and punished in the same manner as if such larceny had been committed in this state; and such larceny may be charged to have been committed in any town or city into or through which such stolen property has been brought.

§21-1716. Theft of domestic animals or implements of husbandry.

Any person in this state who shall steal any horse, jackass, jennet, mule, cow, hog, or implement of husbandry, as defined in Section 1-125 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by confinement in the State Penitentiary for a term of not less than three (3) years, nor more than ten (10) years; and any person in this state who shall steal any dog, sheep, or goat, shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction therefor shall be punished by confinement in the State Penitentiary for a term not less than six (6) months, nor more than three (3) years, or by a fine in an amount that is equal to three times the value of animals and machinery that were stolen but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. The word “horse” as used in this section includes all animals of the equine species and the word “cow” includes all animals of bovine species.

§21-1717. Dog as personal property.

All animals of the dog kind, whether male or female, shall be considered the personal property of the owner thereof, for all purposes.

§21 1718. Larceny of dogs.

The taking of personal property of the kind defined in Section 1717 of this title, accomplished by fraud or stealth, and with the intent to deprive another thereof, is hereby defined as larceny and punishable in the same manner and to the same degree as in larceny of other descriptions of personal property.

§21-1719. Larceny of domestic fowls - Receiving stolen fowls.

Every person who shall take, steal and carry away any domestic fowl, or fowls, and any person purchasing or receiving such domestic fowl, or fowls, knowing them to have been stolen, shall be guilty of grand larceny, regardless of the value thereof, and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding five (5) years, or by a fine not exceeding Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), or by confinement in the county jail not exceeding two (2) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

§21-1719.1. Larceny of certain fish and game.

A. For the purpose of this section:

“Domesticated fish or game” means all birds, mammals, fish and other aquatic forms and all other animals, regardless of classifications, whether resident, migratory or imported, protected or unprotected, dead or alive, and shall extend to and include every part of any individual species when such domesticated fish or game are not in the wild and are in the possession of a person currently licensed to possess such fish or game; and
“Taking” means the pursuing, killing, capturing, trapping, snaring and netting of domesticated fish or game or placing, setting, drawing or using any net, trap or other device for taking domesticated fish or game and includes specifically every attempt to take such domesticated fish or game.

B. Any domesticated fish or game shall be considered the personal property of the owner.

C. Any person who shall take any domesticated fish or game, with the intent to deprive the owner of said fish or game, and any person purchasing or receiving such domesticated fish or game knowing them to have been stolen, shall:

Upon conviction, if the current market value of said domesticated fish or game is less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed sixty (60) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment; or
Upon conviction, if the current market value of said domesticated fish or game is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or more, be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term of not more than five (5) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. If the current market value is Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or more but less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), the person shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by incarceration in the county jail for not more than one (1) year or by incarceration in the county jail one or more nights or weekends pursuant to Section 991a-2 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, at the option of the court, and shall be subject to a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and ordered to provide restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991a of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

§21-1719.2. Taking, stealing or carrying away exotic livestock - Penalties - Definition.

A. Any person who shall take, steal or carry away any exotic livestock, any person purchasing or receiving such exotic livestock, knowing them to have been stolen, shall be deemed guilty of grand larceny, regardless of the value thereof, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding ten (10) years, or by a fine not exceeding Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) or by both such fine and imprisonment.

B. For purposes of this section the term “exotic livestock” means commercially raised exotic livestock including animals of the families bovidae, cervidae and antilocapridae or birds of the ratite group.

§21-1720. Aircraft, automobile or other automotive driven vehicle, construction equipment or farm equipment.

Any person in this state who shall steal an aircraft, automobile or other automotive driven vehicle, construction equipment or farm equipment, shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be punished by confinement in the State Penitentiary for a term of not less than three (3) years, nor more than twenty (20) years or by a fine in an amount that is equal to three times the value of the property that was stolen but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) or by both such fine and imprisonment and shall be ordered to pay restitution pursuant to Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

§21-1721. Tapping pipeline.

Any person who shall unlawfully make or cause to be made any connection with or in any way tap or cause to be tapped, or drill or cause to be drilled a hole in any pipe or pipeline or tank laid or used for the conduct or storage of crude oil, naphtha, gas or casinghead gas, or any of the manufactured or natural products thereof, with intent to deprive the owner thereof of any of said crude oil, naphtha, gas, casinghead gas or any of the manufactured or natural products thereof, shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction the person shall be punished by forfeiture of the instrumentality of the crime and by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), and not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or confinement in the State Penitentiary for a term of not less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

§21-1722. Taking oil, gas, gasoline or any product thereof - When misdemeanor or felony.

Any person who shall unlawfully take any crude oil or gasoline, or any product thereof, from any pipe, pipeline, tank, tank car, or other receptacle or container and any person who shall unlawfully take or cause to be taken any machinery, drilling mud, equipment or other materials necessary for the drilling or production of oil or gas wells, with intent to deprive the owner or lessee thereof of said crude oil, gas, gasoline, or any product thereof, machinery, drilling mud, equipment or other materials necessary for the drilling or production of oil or gas wells shall:

Be guilty of a misdemeanor if the value of said product so taken is less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed sixty (60) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment;
Be guilty of a felony if the value of such product so taken is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or more and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by forfeiture of the instrumentality of the crime and by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), and not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term in the range of one (1) year to ten (10) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. If the value exceeds Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) but is less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), the person shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by incarceration in the county jail for a term of not more than one (1) year or by incarceration in the county jail one or more nights or weekends pursuant to Section 991a-2 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, at the option of the court, and shall be subject to a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and ordered to provide restitution to the victim as provided in Section 991a of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

§21-1723. Larceny from the house.

Any person entering and stealing any money or other thing of value from any house, railroad car, tent, booth or temporary building shall be guilty of larceny from the house. Larceny from the house is a felony.

§21-1724. Larceny from the house a felony.

Any person convicted of larceny from the house shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a period of time not to exceed five (5) years.

§21-1726. Mercury - Possession of more than one pound without written evidence of title - Penalty - Defenses.

A. Any person who may be found in this state with more than one (1) pound of mercury in his possession, and who does not have valid written evidence of his title to such mercury, shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, or by a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

B. It shall be a defense to any charge under this section that the person so charged (1) is a bona fide miner or processor of mercury or (2) that the mercury possessed by such person is, while in his possession, an integral part of a tool, instrument, or device used for a beneficial purpose. In any complaint, information, or indictment brought under this section, it shall not be necessary to negative any exception, excuse, exemption, or defense provided in this section, and the burden of proof of any such exception, excuse, exemption or defense shall be upon the defendant.

§21-1727. Copper - Stealing or removing - Penalties.

Any person who shall enter upon any premises, easement, or right of way with intent to steal or remove without the consent of the owner, or with intent to aid or assist in stealing or removing any copper wire, copper cable, or copper tubing from and off of any appurtenance on such premises, easement, or right of way shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by confinement in the State Penitentiary for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, or by confinement in the county jail for not less than ninety (90) days nor more than two hundred (200) days, or shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

§21-1728. Possessing, receiving or transporting stolen copper - Penalty.

Any person who shall receive, transport, or possess in this state stolen copper wire, copper cable, or copper tubing under such circumstances that he knew or should have known that the same was stolen shall upon conviction thereof be guilty of a felony and shall be confined in the State Penitentiary for a term of not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, or shall be confined in the county jail for not less than ninety (90) days nor more than two hundred (200) days, or shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both such fine and imprisonment.

§21-1732. Larceny of trade secrets – Applicability of section.

A. Any person who, with intent to deprive or withhold from the owner thereof the control of a trade secret, or with an intent to appropriate a trade secret to his or her own use or to the use of another:

(a) steals or embezzles an article representing a trade secret, or,

(b) without authority makes or causes to be made a copy of an article representing a trade secret, shall be guilty of larceny under Section 1704 of this title. For purposes of determining whether such larceny is grand larceny or petit larceny under this section, the value of the trade secret and not the value of the article shall be controlling.

B. (a) The word "article" means any object, material, device, customer list, business records, or substance or copy thereof, including any writing, record, recording, drawing, sample, specimen, prototype, model, photograph, microorganism, blueprint, information stored in any computer-related format, or map.

(b) The word "representing" means describing, depleting, containing, constituting, reflecting or recording.

(c) The term "trade secret" means information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, customer list, business records or process, that:

derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and
is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

(d) The word "copy" means any facsimile, replica, photograph or other reproduction of an article, including copying, transferring and e-mailing of computer data, and any note, drawing or sketch made of or from an article.

C. In a prosecution for a violation of this act, it shall be no defense that the person so charged returned or intended to return the article so stolen, embezzled or copied.

D. The provisions of this section shall not apply if the person acted in accordance with a written agreement with the person’s employer that specified the manner in which disputes involving clients are to be resolved upon termination of the employer-employee relationship.

§21 1737. Larceny of cable, information, or telecommunications services.

A. Any person who:

Shall knowingly obtain or attempt to obtain cable, information, or telecommunications service of any type or kind including but not limited to cable television, telephony, internet, and data transmission service from another by means, artifice, trick, deception, or device without the payment to the operator of said service of all lawful compensation for each type of service obtained; or
Shall knowingly assist or instruct any other person in obtaining or attempting to obtain cable, information, or telecommunications service of any type or kind including but not limited to cable television, telephony, internet, and data transmission service without the payment to the operator of all lawful compensations; or
Shall knowingly tamper or otherwise interfere with or connect to by any means, whether mechanical, electrical, acoustical, or other means, any cables, wires, or other devices used for the distribution of cable, information, or telecommunications service of any type or kind including but not limited to cable television, telephony, internet, and data transmission service without authority from the operator of said service; or
Shall knowingly manufacture, import into this state, distribute, sell, offer for sale, rental, or use, possess for sale, rental, or use, or advertise for sale, rental, or use any device of any description, or any plan, or kit for a device, designed in whole or in part to facilitate the doing of any of the acts specified in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection; shall be guilty, upon conviction, of the misdemeanor of larceny of cable television, cable, information, or telecommunications service or tampering with cable television, cable, information, or telecommunications service, which offenses are punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months or by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both said fine and imprisonment.

B. In any prosecution as set forth in subsection A of this section, the existence on the property and in the actual possession of the accused, of (1) any connection, wire, conductor, or any device whatsoever, which is connected in such a manner as would appear to permit the use of cable, information, or telecommunications service of any type or kind including but not limited to cable television, telephony, internet, and data transmission service without the same being reported for payment to and specifically authorized by the operator of the cable, information, or telecommunications service of any type or kind including but not limited to cable television, telephony, internet, and data transmission service or (2) the existence on the property and in the actual possession of the accused, in quantities or volumes suggesting possession for resale, of any device designed in whole or in part to facilitate the performance of any of the illegal acts mentioned in subsection A of this section shall be prima facie evidence of intent to violate and of the violation of the provisions of subsection A of this section by the accused.

C. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be liable to the franchised or otherwise duly licensed cable television system, information service provider, or other telecommunications service or equipment provider for the greater of the following amounts:

Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00); or
Three times the amount of actual damages, if any, sustained by the plaintiff, plus reasonable attorneys fees.

D. Any franchised or otherwise duly licensed cable television system, information service provider, or other telecommunications service or equipment provider may bring an action to enjoin and restrain any violation of the provisions of this section or an action of conversion, or both, and may in the same action seek damages as provided for in subsection C of this section.

E. It is not a necessary prerequisite to an action pursuant to this section that the plaintiff has suffered, or be threatened with, actual damages.

F. The provisions of this section shall not be construed or otherwise interpreted to prohibit an individual from owning or operating a device commonly known as a "satellite receiving dish" for the purpose of receiving and utilizing satellite relayed television signals for his own use.

§21 1739. Library theft.

A. As used in this section:

"Library facility" means any:

a. public library; or

b. library of an educational, historical or eleemosynary institution, organization, or society; or

c. museum; or

d. repository of public or institutional records.

"Library material" means any book, plate, picture, photograph, engraving, painting, drawing, map, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, broadside, manuscript, document, letter, record, microform, sound recording, audiovisual materials in any format, magnetic or other tapes, catalog cards or catalog records, electronic data processing records, computer software, artifacts, or other documentary, written or printed materials regardless of physical form or characteristics, belonging or on loan to, or otherwise in the custody of a library facility.
"Demand" means either actual notice to the possessor of any library materials or the mailing of written notice to the possessor at the last address of record which the library facility has for said person, demanding the return of designated library materials. If demand is made by mail it shall be deemed to have been given as of the date the notice is mailed by the library facility.

B. Any person shall be guilty, upon conviction, of library theft who willfully: 1. Removes or attempts to remove any library material from the premises of a library facility without authority; or

Mutilates, destroys, alters or otherwise damages, in whole or in part, any library materials; or
Fails to return any library materials which have been lent to said person by the library facility, within seven (7) days after demand has been made for the return of the library materials.

C. A person convicted of library theft shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to the fine and restitution provisions of this subsection but shall not be subject to imprisonment. The punishment for conviction of library theft shall be:

If the aggregate value of the library material is Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or less, by fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or the offender shall make restitution to the library facility, including payment of all related expenses incurred by the library facility as a result of the actions of the offender, or both such fine and restitution; or
If the aggregate value of the library material is greater than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), by fine not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or the offender shall make restitution to the library facility, including payment of all expenses incurred by the library facility as a result of the actions of the offender, or both such fine and restitution.

D. Copies of the provisions of this section shall be posted on the premises of each library facility. Added by Laws 1988, c. 112, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1988.

§21-1740. Pump Pirates Act.

Any person who pumps gasoline into the gasoline tank of a vehicle and leaves the premises where the gasoline was pumped without making payment for the gasoline shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or confinement in the county jail for a period of not more than sixty (60) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

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