720 ILCS 5/16-6 – Theft-Related Devices

720 ILCS 5/16-6 – Theft-Related Devices

This law makes it illegal to make, use, or have tools or gadgets meant for stealing from machines, stores, or payment cards.

This Illinois law says that people cannot have or use special keys, tools, or devices to steal from coin machines, stores, or payment cards. It also sets penalties for these crimes and allows owners to sue for damages.

(a)

1. It is against the law to have a key, mold, device, or material made to open or damage a coin-operated machine if you plan to steal from it.
2. It is also against the law to use any of those items to steal from a coin-operated machine and cause more than $300 in damage or loss.

(b)

1. It is a crime to knowingly make, sell, or give away a shielding device that hides stolen goods from store security sensors.
2. It is a crime to have a shielding device if you plan to use it to steal items from a store.
3. It is a crime to have a device that removes security tags if you plan to use it to take tags off store items without permission.

(c)

1. It is a crime to use a scanning device to read or copy information from someone’s debit or credit card without their permission, if you plan to trick or steal from them.
2. It is a crime to use a reencoder to copy payment card information from one card to another without permission, if done to cheat or steal from someone.

(d) Sentence: Breaking parts (a)(1), (b)(1), (b)(2), or (b)(3) is a Class A misdemeanor. Doing part (a)(2), (c)(1), or (c)(2) is a Class 4 felony. If someone repeats crimes under (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), it is a Class 4 felony, and if they repeat (c)(1), or (c)(2), it is a Class 3 felony.

(e) The owner of a coin machine can sue anyone who commits crimes in (a)(1) or (a)(2). They can get up to three times the amount of their damage plus legal costs.

(f) “Substance” means any acidic or corrosive material but not items bought from or condiments provided near the machine.

(g) “theft detection shielding device” means a bag or tool made to block store alarms and keep stolen items from being detected.

View the full statute here.

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