720 ILCS 5/16-2 – Theft of Lost or Mislaid Property
This law says it’s stealing if you keep something you found when you could have returned it to its owner.
If someone finds lost property and knows how to find the owner but doesn’t try to return it–and plans to keep it forever–that person can be charged with theft. The punishment depends on how much the item is worth.
(a) A person commits theft of lost or mislaid property when they find or take control of something that isn’t theirs and know, learn, or realize there’s a reasonable way to find out who the owner is.
(b) They also don’t take reasonable steps to return the property to the owner.
(c) They plan to keep the property for good, taking away the owner’s ability to use or benefit from it.
(d) Sentence:
- If the property is worth $500 or less, it’s a Class B misdemeanor.
- If the property is worth more than $500 but not more than $10,000, it’s a Class A misdemeanor.
- If the property is worth more than $10,000, it’s a Class 4 felony.
Contact us online or call (314) 900-HELP to talk with a Southern Illinois criminal defense lawyer.
