Tennessee Theft and Shoplifting Laws

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

Please note that the Tennessee theft laws shown on this page are to aid you in understanding your state Tennessee theft, shoplifting and stealing laws. While we have tried to show the latest version of Tennessee theft laws, we do not guarantee its accuracy. This page is not a substitute for legal advice from a lawyer. It is in your best interest that you find an appropriate attorney for more information about Tennessee theft laws.

Class	Price
4 Hour Theft Class	$99	Register Now
6 Hour Theft Class	$129	Register Now
8 Hour Theft Class	$149	Register Now
12 Hour Theft Class	$199	Register Now
16 Hour Advanced Class	$249	Register Now
24 Hour Extended Theft Class	$349	Register Now

39-14-101. Consolidation of theft offenses. —

Conduct denominated as theft in this part constitutes a single offense embracing the separate offenses referenced before 1989 as embezzlement, false pretense, fraudulent conversion, larceny, receiving or concealing stolen property, and other similar offenses.

39-14-102. Part definitions. —

The following definitions apply in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Cable television company” means any franchise or other duly licensed company which is operated or intended to be operated to perform the service of receiving and amplifying the signals broadcast by one (1) or more television stations and redistributing such signals by wire, cable or other device or means for accomplishing such redistribution to members of the public who subscribe to such service, or distributing through such company's antennae, poles, wires, cables, conduits or other property used in providing service to its subscribers and customers any television signals whether broadcast or not;

(2) “Credit card” means any real or forged instrument, writing or other evidence, whether known as a credit card, credit plate, charge plate or by any other name, which purports to evidence an understanding to pay for property or services delivered or rendered to or upon the order of a designated person or bearer;

(3) “Debit card” means any real or forged instrument, writing or other evidence known by any name issued with or without a fee by an issuer for the use of a depositor in obtaining money, goods, services or anything else of value, payment of which is made against funds previously deposited in an account with the issuer;

(4) “Expired” credit or debit card means a card which is no longer valid because the term shown on it has expired;

(5) “Issuer” means the business organization or financial institution or its duly authorized agent which issues a credit or debit card;

(6) “Library” means any:

(A) Public library;

(B) Library of educational, historical or eleemosynary institution, organization or society;

(C) Archives; or

(D) Museum;

(7) “Library material” includes any book, plate, picture, photograph, engraving, painting, drawing, map, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, broadside, manuscript, document, letter, public record, microfilm, sound recording, audio-visual materials in any format, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data, processing records, artifacts or other documentary, written or printed materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, belonging to or on loan to or otherwise in the custody of a library;

(8) “Microwave multi-point distribution system station” or “MDS” means any franchise or other duly licensed company which is operated or intended to be operated to perform the service of receiving and amplifying the signals broadcast by one (1) or more television stations, and redistributing such signals by microwave transmissions to members of the public who subscribe to such service, or distributing through such company's antennae, conduits, or other property used in providing service to its subscribers and customers any television signals whether broadcast or not;

(9) “Receiving” includes, but is not limited to, acquiring possession, control, title or taking a security interest in the property; and

(10) “Revoked” credit or debit card means a card which is no longer valid because permission to use it has been suspended or terminated by the issuer.

39-14-103. Theft of property. —

A person commits theft of property if, with intent to deprive the owner of property, the person knowingly obtains or exercises control over the property without the owner's effective consent.

39-14-104. Theft of services. —

A person commits theft of services who:

(1) Intentionally obtains services by deception, fraud, coercion, false pretense or any other means to avoid payment for the services;

(2) Having control over the disposition of services to others, knowingly diverts those services to the person's own benefit or to the benefit of another not entitled thereto; or

(3) Knowingly absconds from establishments where compensation for services is ordinarily paid immediately upon the rendering of them, including, but not limited to, hotels, motels and restaurants, without payment or a bona fide offer to pay.

39-14-105. Grading of theft. —

Theft of property or services is:

(1) A Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property or services obtained is five hundred dollars ($500) or less;

(2) A Class E felony if the value of the property or services obtained is more than five hundred dollars ($500) but less than one thousand dollars ($1,000);

(3) A Class D felony if the value of the property or services obtained is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more but less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000);

(4) A Class C felony if the value of the property or services obtained is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more but less than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000); and

(5) A Class B felony if the value of the property or services obtained is sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or more.

39-14-106. Unauthorized use of automobiles and other vehicles — Joyriding. —

A person commits a Class A misdemeanor who takes another's automobile, airplane, motorcycle, bicycle, boat or other vehicle without the consent of the owner and the person does not have the intent to deprive the owner thereof.

39-14-108. Pawned or conveyed rental property. —

(a) With respect to the theft of rental property, evidence of any of the following shall create an inference of intent to deprive the owner of the rental property, as provided in § 39-14-103:

(1) The person leasing or renting the property has pawned or otherwise conveyed the property;

(2) The person leasing or renting the property pursuant to a written agreement presents identification to the owner at the time of the execution of the written agreement which bears a fictitious name, telephone number or address; or

(3) The person leasing or renting the property pursuant to a written agreement designating the principal location at which the property is to be used, and specifying the date and time when the same is to be returned, fails to return the property to the owner on or before such return date and within ten (10) days after the date of mailing of written notice to return the property sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, deliver to addressee only, and the property is not to be found at the location designated in the lease or rental agreement as the principal place of use of the property.

(b) Any leased or rented tangible personal property that has been sold, pawned or otherwise disposed of by the person renting or leasing the property during the period of the lease or rental agreement shall be returned to the owner of the property if the property is properly marked and identified as leased or rental property and is no longer needed as evidence against the person, and if the owner of the property can, by serial number, manufacturer's identification number or other sufficient means, demonstrate ownership of the property.

(c) (1) Each owner of rental property shall conspicuously mark and identify the property as rented or leased property. The markings shall include, but not be limited to, the name and address of the rental company and the serial number of the property.

(2) The provisions of subdivision (c)(1) do not apply to motor vehicles, as defined in title 55.

39-14-146. Theft of property — Conduct involving merchandise. —

(a) For purposes of § 39-14-103, a person commits theft of property if the person, with the intent to deprive a merchant of the stated price of merchandise, knowingly commits any of the following acts:

(1) Conceals the merchandise;

(2) Removes, takes possession of, or causes the removal of merchandise;

(3) Alters, transfers or removes any price marking, or any other marking which aids in determining value affixed to the merchandise;

(4) Transfers the merchandise from one (1) container to another; or

(5) Causes the cash register or other sales recording device to reflect less than the merchant's stated price for the merchandise.

(b) In a theft prosecution under this section, unless applicable, the state is not required to prove that the defendant obtained or exercised control over the merchandise as required in a prosecution under § 39-14-103.

You might also be interested in Tennessee Theft and Shoplifting Classes.