§ 570.030 RSMo – Missouri Stealing Charges & Penalties

570.030. Stealing — penalties.

Taking things that aren’t yours can lead to serious criminal charges.

If you take someone else’s property or services without permission, lie or threaten to get it, or keep something you know is stolen, you can be charged with stealing. The punishment depends on what was taken and other factors.

1. You commit stealing if you:

• Take property or services from someone else to keep them, either without their consent or by using lies or threats.
• Try to take anhydrous ammonia or liquid nitrogen from someone else.
• Keep or get rid of property you know (or believe) is stolen, to keep it from the owner.

2. It’s a class A felony if you steal any kind of tank or equipment that contains anhydrous ammonia.

3. It’s a class B felony if you steal:

1. Any amount of anhydrous ammonia or liquid nitrogen.
2. Livestock or captive wildlife worth over $3,000, and you’ve done it before.
3. A motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft, and you’ve been convicted of stealing twice before in the last 10 years.
4. Livestock worth more than $10,000.
5. From a financial institution by physically taking property from someone.

4. It’s a class C felony if what you steal is worth $25,000 or more, or if it’s a teller machine or its contents.

5. It’s a class D felony if:

1. The value is $750 or more.
2. You take the property directly from someone’s person.
3. You steal:
   • A vehicle, boat, or aircraft
   • A deed or will
   • A credit or debit card
   • A firearm or explosive weapon
   • A U.S. flag used for display
   • Official legislative or court documents
   • Voter registration books
   • Livestock or commercial fish
   • Wildlife held under permit
   • Controlled substances or ammonium nitrate
   • Utility wires, pipes, or equipment
   • Materials used to make meth

6. It’s a class E felony if:

1. You steal an animal.
2. You steal a catalytic converter.
3. You’ve had three past stealing convictions in the last 10 years.
4. You steal mail or a package that hasn’t been received yet or was left out for pickup.

7. It’s a class D misdemeanor if:

• The item is worth less than $150, isn’t one of the special types above, and you have no prior stealing convictions.

8. If no other penalty fits, stealing is a class A misdemeanor.

9. If your charge is more serious because of past stealing convictions, those convictions must be proven in court.

10. If you steal multiple qualifying items, each can be charged separately as a felony.

11. If you steal several things as part of a plan, the total value can be added up to decide the charge level—unless each item is charged separately.

View the full statute here

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