Minnesota criminal statutes list a number of specific actions that, when committed, would constitute the offense of theft. For instance, a person commits theft under Minnesota law when he or she:
Like many other states, Minnesota classifies theft offenses according to the dollar value of the property or services taken (and sometimes according to the type of property). Let's take a more detailed look at each level of theft under Minnesota law.
The lowest level theft offense in Minnesota -- often called petty theft -- occurs when the value of the property or services stolen is $500 or less. A person who commits theft at this level will receive a sentence of imprisonment of not more than 90 days and/or a fine of not more than $1,000. (Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.52 Subd. 3(5).)
If the value of the property or services is more than $500 but not more than $1,000, a theft offense is punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of not more than one year, or a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. ( § 609.52 Subd. 3(4).)
When the value of the property or services stolen is more than $1,000 but not more than $5,000, a theft offense is punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of no more than five years, or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. Theft offenses at this level also include
Where the dollar value of property or services stolen is more than $5,000, the offense is punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of not more than 10 years, or a fine of not more than $20,000, or both. Theft offenses at this level also include:
Finally, the most serious form of theft under Minnesota law is punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of not more than 20 years, or a fine of $100,000, or both. Theft offenses at this level include:
Besides the criminal penalties detailed above, a person who commits theft in Minnesota will be civilly liable to the owner of the property for an amount equal to the dollar value of the property at the time it was stolen (i.e. for a shoplifting offense, the retail value of the item in the store). The person is also civilly liable to the owner of the property for punitive damages in the amount of either $50, or no more than 100% of the property's value, whichever is greater. (Minn. Stat. Ann. § 604.14.)
As noted above, when a person who, within the last five years, has a conviction for any theft-related offense, after any subsequent theft of property or services valued at more than $1,000 but not more than $5,000, he or she will receive a sentence of imprisonment of not more than five years or payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. This is the case whether the prior theft conviction was in Minnesota or elsewhere. (Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.52, Subd. 3(3)(c).) For more information on how a previous conviction may affect a theft charge under Minnesota law, perform your own legal research or consult a Minnesota criminal defense attorney.