Connecticut Laws on Larceny, Theft, and Shoplifting

In Connecticut, a person who wrongfully takes another's property and doesn't intend to give it back commits larceny (or theft). The crime can be as simple as stealing a bike or as complex as embezzling funds from an employer. Stealing services and utilities without payment or through fraud also count as larceny.

This article will review charges and penalties for larceny offenses in Connecticut.

What Acts Count as Larceny in Connecticut?

Connecticut law defines larceny—also called theft—as the wrongful taking, obtaining, or withholding of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property or to appropriate (give) it to a third person.

Larceny includes the following unlawful acts:

• stealing property, services, utilities, and motor fuel
• embezzling money or property
• extorting another person
• receiving stolen property
• shoplifting
• obtaining property or services through fraud, false pretenses, or false promises, and
• keeping lost property without using reasonable efforts to find the owner.

Instead of dividing up many of these similar offenses, Connecticut combines most of them in its main larceny statute. Some exceptions include extortion, stealing a firearm, and stealing a vehicle. These larceny offenses carry felony penalties regardless of the value of the property stolen.

(Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-119, 119c, 212 (2025).)

Degrees of Larceny Charges and Penalties in Connecticut

Connecticut law classifies and penalizes larceny offenses based on several factors–the value of stolen property or services, the type of property or services, and in some cases, the victim involved. Larceny charges can range from a misdemeanor to a serious felony. Instead of the fines listed below, judges can impose a fine that's twice the amount stolen in the offense.

Sixth-Degree Larceny

A person who steals property or services worth $500 or less commits sixth-degree larceny, a class C misdemeanor. A class C misdemeanor carries a maximum three-month jail term and a $500 fine.

Fifth-Degree Larceny

Theft of property or services valued at more than $500 but less than $1,000 falls under fifth-degree larceny, a class B misdemeanor. A person convicted of a class B misdemeanor faces six months of jail time and a fine of up to $1,000.

Fourth-Degree Larceny

Fourth-degree larceny involves theft of property or services worth between and $1,000 and $2,000. This class A misdemeanor carries a maximum jail term of 364 days and a $2,000 fine.

Third-Degree Larceny

A person commits third-degree larceny when the theft involves:

• property or services valued at more than $2,000 but less than $10,000
• a public record or instrument, or
• a trade secret.

Third-degree larceny is a class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Second-Degree Larceny

A person charged with second-degree larceny faces a class C felony. This offense level involves theft of:

• property or services valued at more than $10,000 but less than $20,000
• property (any value) taken directly from a person
• public community property valued at $2,000 or less and obtained by fraud
• telecommunications property (such as cables or wires) and the crime interrupts emergency communication services, or
• property obtained through embezzlement, false pretenses, or false promise, where the victim is age 60 or older, under conservatorship or guardianship, or physically disabled.

A class C felony carries a sentence of imprisonment from one to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

First-Degree Larceny

A person convicted of first-degree larceny commits a class B felony. First-degree larceny involves the following types of theft:

• extortion (obtaining property or service through threats)
• theft of property, services, or a motor vehicle valued at more than $20,000, or
• theft of public community property exceeding $2,000 in value and obtained by fraud.

A class B felony conviction is punishable by one to 20 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine.

(Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-35a, 53a-36, 53a-41, 53a-42, 53a-44, 53a-122 to 53a-125b, 53a-212 (2025).)

Enhanced Penalties for Persistent Larceny Offenders

Under Connecticut's sentencing laws, enhanced penalties apply to "persistent larceny offenders" who commit a third misdemeanor larceny offense (fourth-, fifth- or sixth-degree larceny).

• For fifth- and sixth-degree larceny convictions, the penalty increases by one misdemeanor level.
• Someone facing fourth-degree larceny charges will face a class E felony if its their third or subsequent larceny conviction. A class E felony sentence carries up to three years in prison and a $3,500 fine.

Repeat felony offenders (larceny or other crimes) can also face enhanced penalties.

(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-40 (2025).)

Penalties for Stealing a Vehicle or Firearm in Connecticut

Stealing a firearm, vehicle, or major components of a vehicle are felony offenses, regardless of the item's value.

Firearm theft. Connecticut makes it a class C felony to steal a firearm. Class C felonies carry one to 10 years of possible prison time and a $10,000 fine.

Vehicle theft. For stealing a vehicle or a major component (such as a catalytic converter), Connecticut law imposes increasingly harsher penalties for repeat offenders. It's a class E felony for a first offense, class D felony for a second offense, and class B felony for all subsequent offenses. Class E felonies carry up to three years in prison, Class D felonies carry up to five years in prison, and Class B felonies carry one to 20 years of prison time. Fines can range from $3,500 to $15,000 or twice the defendant's gain from the offense.

(Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-119c, 53a-212 (2025).)

Defenses to Larceny Charges in Connecticut

A person facing larceny charges has several possible defenses and defense strategies available. One might be an alibi defense—"It wasn't me; it was someone else."

Your attorney might also try to poke holes in the prosecution's case by arguing that you never intended to keep the property or not return it. Say, you borrowed the property and fully intended to return it to the owner. If your attorney can convince the jury that you didn't intend to permanently deprive another of their property, the prosecutor hasn't met its burden of proof on every element of the case and the jury must acquit.

Another defense strategy is to challenge the value of the items in question. Proving an item is worth much less than what the prosecution claims could mean the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor.

Shoplifting Offenses and Penalties in Connecticut

Shoplifting offenses carry both criminal and civil penalties in Connecticut. A person commits shoplifting by intentionally possessing merchandise that's for sale in a store and intending to take it without paying the full purchase price. This definition covers those who shoplift and leave the premises without paying, those who conceal items and attempt to leave the store, and those who use other means to not pay the full price (like switching price tags or containers).

Criminal Penalties for Shoplifting

Connecticut includes most shoplifting crimes under the general larceny statute, with penalties based on the value of the goods stolen.

Connecticut also makes it a crime to possess a shoplifting device—one that can be used to defeat an antitheft or inventory control device—under circumstances indicating an intent to shoplift. A conviction for possession of a shoplifting device is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days' incarceration and a $2,000 fine. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-127f (2025).)

Civil Penalties for Shoplifting

In addition to criminal penalties, a store owner can bring a civil action for damages against an alleged shoplifter. Connecticut's definition of shoplifting (for civil liability purposes) includes stealing merchandise from a store or any agricultural produce kept, grown, or raised on a property.

Adults and emancipated minors are liable in shoplifting cases to the store owner for the following:

• the retail value of the merchandise or produce taken (if not recovered in a sellable condition)
• punitive damages (a penalty) up to $300, and
• reasonable court costs and attorneys' fees.

(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-564a (2025).)

Talk to an Attorney

If you're facing charges for larceny, theft, or shoplifting, speak with a criminal defense attorney or public defender as soon as possible. An attorney can help you navigate the criminal system, raise defenses, and protect your rights. Be sure to ask your attorney about any immediate and future consequences associated with a guilty plea, plea bargain, or civil settlement (in the case of shoplifting). Having a criminal record for larceny or theft can make it more difficult to get a job, housing, or loan in the future.