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Theft Crimes Have Several Definitions under Arizona Law
Theft can be defined under different ways in Arizona. It could be controlling another person’s property with intent to deprive them; using another person’s property or services for an unauthorized period of time; and obtaining another person’s property and services through material representation, which is fraud.
Also, controlling lost property without reasonably attempting to find its owner, controlling stolen property or obtaining compensable services without paying or agreeing to pay for the services are theft crimes.
Theft Crimes Have Different Classes, with a Class 1 Misdemeanor Being the Lowest level Theft Offense
All of those are different types of offenses. Then for a Class 1 Misdemeanor Theft, it’s where the theft of any property or services are valued at less than $1,000, that’s a Class 1 Misdemeanor, which is the lowest level theft offense.
If the person takes the property directly from a person or if the property is a firearm or if the property is an animal, taken for animal fighting, it may be raised to a felony.
Then a Class 6 Felony Theft is if it involves property or services valued at least $1,000 but not more than $2,000, this would be a Class 6 Felony.
A Class 5 Felony Theft is theft of property or services valued at between $2,000 and $3,000, and that would be a Class 5 Felony. This is punishable by imprisonment for a minimum of six months to a maximum of two and a half years.
Then for a Class 4 Felony Theft, that is considered theft of property or services valued at between $3,000 and $4,000. It could be the theft of a vehicle engine or transmission, regardless of the dollar value.
A person that commits the offense of shoplifting or has two or more previous convictions that involve burglary, shoplifting, robbery or theft, within the past five years, would be charged with a Class 4 Felony.
A Class 3 Felony Theft Sentence Can Entail Imprisonment of 2 to More Than 8 Years
Then for a Class 3 Felony Theft, it’s for property or services with the value of at least 4,000 but not greater than 25,000. This is punishable by imprisonment for 2 to 8.75 years.
Then a Class 2 Felony Theft is theft of property or services with a value of $25,000 or more. This is going to be the Class 2 Felony.