Louisiana
Louisiana Theft Laws: Felony Threshold, Penalties and Shoplifting
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 14, 2026). · 27 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
In Louisiana, theft becomes a felony when the property is worth $1,000 or more. La. R.S. 14:67(B)(3) punishes theft of "a value of one thousand dollars or more, but less than a value of five thousand dollars" with up to five years, "with or without hard labor," and any crime punishable by hard labor is a felony under R.S. 14:2(A)(4). Shoplifting has no separate statute; it is charged as theft under 14:67. For other states, see our guide to theft laws by state.
Information last verified on 2026-10-13. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Louisiana state theft law in Title 14 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (R.S. 14:67 and the related theft sections in Subpart C of the Criminal Code), the felony definition in R.S. 14:2, the shoplifting detention rule in Code of Criminal Procedure article 215, and the merchant civil liability statute R.S. 9:2799.1. It does not cover federal theft offenses, parish or city ordinances, or identity theft and fraud schemes, which have their own pages linked below.
What counts as theft in Louisiana
La. R.S. 14:67(A) defines theft as "the misappropriation or taking of anything of value which belongs to another, either without the consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations." The statute adds: "An intent to deprive the other permanently of whatever may be the subject of the misappropriation or taking is essential."
Louisiana therefore covers both outright taking and obtaining property by fraud in one offense. It does not use the labels petty theft, grand theft or larceny, and 14:67 does not assign offense classes. Each value tier carries its own sentence, written into the statute.
Felony or misdemeanor
Whether a theft is a felony depends on the sentence the statute allows. Under R.S. 14:2(A)(4), a "felony" is "any crime for which an offender may be sentenced to death or imprisonment at hard labor," and under 14:2(A)(6) a "misdemeanor" is "any crime other than a felony." Every theft tier at $1,000 or more allows hard labor, so each one is a felony. The base tier under $1,000 allows only up to six months with no hard labor, so it is a misdemeanor.
Louisiana theft penalties by value
| Value or circumstance | Ordinary statutory penalty | Felony or misdemeanor (R.S. 14:2) |
|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | Up to 6 months, a fine up to $1,000, or both | Misdemeanor |
| Under $1,000, after two or more prior theft convictions | Up to 2 years with or without hard labor, a fine up to $2,000, or both | Felony |
| Under $1,000, theft of a package delivered to an inhabited dwelling owned by another | Up to 2 years with or without hard labor, a fine up to $2,000, or both | Felony |
| $1,000 to under $5,000 | Up to 5 years with or without hard labor, a fine up to $3,000, or both | Felony |
| $5,000 to under $25,000 | Up to 10 years with or without hard labor, a fine up to $10,000, or both | Felony |
| $25,000 or more | Up to 20 years at hard labor, a fine up to $50,000, or both | Felony |
These are the ordinary statutory ranges in La. R.S. 14:67(B)(1) through (4). Louisiana's Habitual Offender Law, R.S. 15:529.1, can raise them for a person who, "after having been convicted within this state of a felony," or of an equivalent crime elsewhere, "thereafter commits any subsequent felony within this state." For a second felony that would otherwise carry less than life, the sentence is "for a determinate term not less than one-third the longest term and not more than twice the longest term prescribed for a first conviction"; third and later felonies carry longer terms under the same section. Under 15:529.1(C)(1), the current offense "shall not be counted as, respectively, a second, third, fourth, or higher offense if more than five years have elapsed between the date of the commission of the current offense or offenses and the date of the completion of sentence, probation, parole, or suspension of sentence for the previous conviction or convictions," and time spent incarcerated or under probation or parole supervision is not included in those five years. The period is ten years when the current offense or the previous conviction is a crime of violence under R.S. 14:2(B) or a sex offense under R.S. 15:541 (529.1(C)(2)), and a non-violent felony conviction set aside and dismissed under Code of Criminal Procedure article 893 does not count as a prior conviction for enhancing a non-violent felony (529.1(C)(3)).
Repeat thefts and package theft under $1,000
Two rules raise the penalty for a theft worth less than $1,000. Under 14:67(B)(4)(b)(i), "if the offender in such cases has been convicted of theft two or more times previously, upon any subsequent conviction, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years or may be fined not more than two thousand dollars, or both." Under (B)(4)(b)(ii), the same penalty applies when the offender "commits the crime of theft of a package that has been delivered to an inhabited dwelling owned by another."
Aggregation
Under 14:67(D), "when there has been a misappropriation or taking by a number of distinct acts of the offender, the aggregate of the amount of the misappropriations or taking shall determine the grade of the offense." Several small thefts can therefore be graded together at a higher tier.
Shoplifting in Louisiana
Louisiana's former shoplifting statute, R.S. 14:67.10 (theft of goods), was "Repealed by Acts 2017, No. 281, §3." Shoplifting is now prosecuted as theft under 14:67 and graded on the same value scale: merchandise worth $1,000 or more reaches the felony tiers, and smaller amounts are misdemeanors unless the repeat-conviction rule applies.
When intent can be inferred
Under 14:67(E), when the property was "held for sale by a merchant," an intent to permanently deprive the merchant "may be inferred when the defendant":
"(1) Intentionally conceals, on his person or otherwise, goods held for sale. (2) Alters or transfers any price marking reflecting the actual retail price of the goods. (3) Transfers goods from one container or package to another or places goods in any container, package, or wrapping in a manner to avoid detection. (4) Willfully causes the cash register or other sales recording device to reflect less than the actual retail price of the goods. (5) Removes any price marking with the intent to deceive the merchant as to the actual retail price of the goods."
Assault on a store employee
Under 14:67(C), "if the offender commits an assault upon a store or merchant's employee who is acting in the course and scope of his employment duties during the commission or attempted commission of theft, at least fifteen days of the sentence imposed under this Section shall be served without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence."
Detention by a merchant
Code of Criminal Procedure article 215(A)(1) allows a peace officer, merchant, or "a specifically authorized employee or agent of a merchant" to "use reasonable force to detain a person for questioning on the merchant's premises, for a length of time, not to exceed sixty minutes, unless it is reasonable under the circumstances that the person be detained longer," when he has "reasonable cause to believe that the person has committed a theft of goods held for sale by the merchant, regardless of the actual value of the goods." The merchant may also hold the person for arrest by a peace officer, and "the detention shall not constitute an arrest."
Under article 215(B), if a store uses an electronic anti-theft device and has posted sufficient notice, a signal from the device indicating removal of specially marked merchandise "shall constitute a sufficient basis for reasonable cause to detain the person." Under 215(A)(2), a peace officer may arrest without a warrant on reasonable grounds, and a complaint from the merchant or its employee "shall constitute reasonable cause for the officer making the arrest."
Theft prevention programs
Article 215(A)(3) lets a merchant that employs at least twenty-five persons offer a person it reasonably believes committed a theft "the opportunity to complete a theft prevention program in lieu of reporting the suspected theft to law enforcement." Under the article:
- A program provider "may charge a fee of not more than five hundred dollars" and may reduce or waive it for inability to pay.
- "The participant shall not be required to sign an admission of guilt nor sign any binding agreement in connection with participation."
- "Any person who successfully completes a theft prevention program pursuant to this Subparagraph shall not be subject to any additional civil penalties under any other provision of law."
Can a store demand money after shoplifting in Louisiana?
Louisiana's civil remedy is R.S. 9:2799.1. Subsection A provides that "any person who unlawfully takes merchandise from a merchant's premises shall be liable to the merchant for the retail value of the merchandise taken, if not recovered in merchantable condition, plus damages of not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars." Under subsection C, those damages "shall be reduced by the amount recovered from the offender as restitution to the merchant as a condition of sentence," and subsection B preserves any other cause of action the merchant may have.
The statute sets what a merchant can recover; it does not decide whether a particular demand is valid. A lawyer licensed in Louisiana can advise on a specific demand letter.
Organized retail theft
R.S. 14:67.25(B) defines organized retail theft as "the intentional procuring, receiving, or concealing of stolen retail property with the intent to sell, deliver, or distribute that property." For this section, "value" means "the price of the retail property as stated, posted, or advertised by the affected retail establishment, including applicable sales taxes," and stolen retail property includes merchandise credit such as gift cards.
The grade turns on the aggregate amount "in any one-hundred-eighty-day period":
- $25,000 or more: up to 20 years at hard labor, a fine up to $50,000, or both.
- $5,000 to under $25,000: up to 10 years with or without hard labor, a fine up to $10,000, or both.
- $1,000 to under $5,000: up to 5 years with or without hard labor, a fine up to $3,000, or both.
- Under $1,000: up to 6 months, a fine up to $1,000, or both; after two or more prior theft convictions, up to 2 years with or without hard labor, a fine up to $2,000, or both.
Under 14:67.25(C), it is presumptive evidence that a retail establishment's owner or operator committed organized retail theft when, on more than one occasion within 180 days, the owner or operator intentionally possessed, procured, received or concealed stolen retail property from or on behalf of someone who lacked a proper business license, did not pay sales or use taxes on the transfer, or accepted cash without providing an invoice.
Theft of a firearm or motor vehicle
Firearms. R.S. 14:67.15 makes theft of a firearm a separate crime with mandatory terms at any value. For a first offense the penalty is "imprisonment with or without hard labor for not less than two years nor more than ten years, without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and a fine of one thousand dollars." A second offense carries five to fifteen years and a $2,000 fine, and a third or later offense carries fifteen to thirty years at hard labor and a $5,000 fine, each without probation, parole or suspension.
Motor vehicles. R.S. 14:67.26 covers taking a motor vehicle with intent to permanently deprive the owner, keeping a lost or misdelivered vehicle without reasonable efforts to find the owner, and taking control of a vehicle the person "knows or should have known" was stolen. It uses the same value tiers as 14:67: up to 20 years at hard labor at $25,000 or more, up to 10 years from $5,000, up to 5 years from $1,000, and up to 6 months under $1,000. Under $1,000, two or more prior theft convictions raise the penalty to up to two years or a $2,000 fine. Filing a false affidavit to support a claimed vehicle theft carries up to five years with or without hard labor, a fine up to $5,000, or both (14:67.26(E)).
Exploitation of elderly persons or persons with infirmities
A separate crime outside the theft subpart, R.S. 14:93.4, covers "the intentional expenditure, diminution, or use by any person, including a caregiver, of the property or assets of a person with an infirmity, an adult with a disability, or a person who is elderly," without the person's express voluntary consent or the consent of a legally authorized representative, or "by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations." It also covers misusing a power of attorney or guardianship over such a person "for one's own profit or advantage by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations." Subsection (A)(2) adds "the financial exploitation of elderly persons or persons with an infirmity as defined in R.S. 6:1372."
The penalty does not depend on value: a fine up to $10,000, up to 10 years with or without hard labor, or both (14:93.4(B)(1)). A second or later conviction carries 1 to 10 years with or without hard labor and a fine up to $20,000. A person convicted, or who enters a plea agreement, is barred from access to the assets or property of the victim or of any other person with a disability or person who is elderly, and from being appointed power of attorney or guardian for any of them (14:93.4(C)). A person convicted must also make full restitution (14:93.4(D)).
Other theft offenses with their own grades
Subpart C of the Louisiana Criminal Code contains these other theft offenses, each with its own penalty:
| Offense | R.S. | Statutory penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Theft of livestock | 14:67.1 | Fine up to $5,000, up to 10 years with or without hard labor, or both, at any value |
| Theft of timber | 14:67.2 | $25,000 or more: fine up to $10,000 and up to 10 years at hard labor; under $25,000: up to 5 years with or without hard labor, fine up to $5,000, or both |
| Mail theft | 14:67.6 | Up to 5 years with or without hard labor, fine up to $5,000, or both; second or later conviction 1 to 10 years and a fine up to $20,000; full restitution |
| Theft or unauthorized reproduction of a mail receptacle key or lock | 14:67.7 | Same penalties as mail theft |
| Theft of a catalytic converter or engine control module | 14:67.12 | Value tiers counting related damage; any prison term has a floor (90 days to 6 months under $1,000; 2 to 5 years from $1,000; 5 to 10 years from $5,000; 10 to 20 years at hard labor at $25,000 or more), or a fine, or both; after two prior convictions, an added consecutive year, an added $1,000 fine, or both |
| Theft or criminal access of an automated teller machine | 14:67.13 | 5 to 10 years with or without hard labor, fine up to $10,000; restitution |
| Theft of anhydrous ammonia | 14:67.19 | Up to 2 years with or without hard labor, fine up to $2,000, or both |
| Theft of critical infrastructure | 14:67.24 | Up to 20 years at hard labor, fine up to $50,000, or both; full restitution |
| Unauthorized use of a movable (taking without intent to keep it permanently) | 14:68 | $1,000 or less: up to 6 months, fine up to $500, or both; over $1,000: up to 2 years with or without hard labor, fine up to $5,000, or both |
| Unauthorized removal of a shopping cart, basket or dairy case | 14:68.1 | Fine up to $100, up to 6 months, or both |
| Unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle from a garage, repair shop or storage facility without paying the charge due | 14:68.3 | Up to 6 months, fine up to $500, or both |
| Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle | 14:68.4 | Up to 2 years with or without hard labor, fine up to $5,000, or both; under $1,000, up to 6 months, fine up to $1,000, or both |
| Making, altering or possessing fraudulent retail sales receipts or UPC labels to defraud a retailer | 14:68.7 | By fair market value of the goods: $25,000 or more up to 20 years at hard labor, fine up to $50,000, or both; $5,000 to under $25,000 up to 10 years with or without hard labor, fine up to $10,000, or both; $1,000 to under $5,000 up to 5 years with or without hard labor, fine up to $3,000, or both; under $1,000 up to 6 months, fine up to $500, or both (up to 2 years with or without hard labor or $2,000 after two prior theft convictions); possessing more than one fraudulent receipt or label up to 10 years or a $3,000 fine, or both; possessing a device to make them up to 5 years or a $3,000 fine, or both |
| Illegal possession of stolen things | 14:69 | Same value tiers and repeat rule as 14:67; values from distinct acts aggregated |
| Illegal possession of stolen firearms | 14:69.1 | 1 to 5 years with or without hard labor; second or later offense 2 to 10 years |
| Distribution, possession or use of theft alarm deactivation devices | 14:70.6 | Fine up to $500, up to 6 months, or both |
Identity theft (R.S. 14:67.16) is covered in our guide to Louisiana identity theft laws.
Recent changes
- 2017: Acts 2017, No. 281 amended 14:67, 14:67.25 and 14:67.26 and repealed several older theft statutes, including 14:67.10, the former theft of goods (shoplifting) section.
- 2022: Acts 2022, No. 127 created the catalytic converter and engine control module theft offense in 14:67.12.
- 2023: Acts 2023, No. 218 created the ATM theft and criminal access offense in 14:67.13.
- 2024: Acts 2024, No. 267, effective August 1, 2024, is the most recent act amending 14:67. It added the package-theft penalty now in 14:67(B)(4)(b)(ii) and the rule that at least 15 days be served without probation or suspension for assaulting a store employee during a theft (14:67(C)). Acts 2024, No. 67 created mail theft (14:67.6) and the mail key and lock offense (14:67.7).
- 2025 and 2026: Acts 2025, No. 26 created theft of critical infrastructure (14:67.24), which Acts 2026, No. 804 amended.
Related legal issues
- Theft by fraudulent conduct overlaps with scams and fraud schemes, covered in our guide to Louisiana scam and fraud laws.
- Whether a theft record can be cleared is covered in Louisiana expungement laws.
- Deadlines for bringing charges and civil claims are covered in the Louisiana statute of limitations guide.
Federal theft offenses are covered on the theft laws by state hub.
Related
- Theft laws by state
- Louisiana scam and fraud laws
- Louisiana identity theft laws
- Louisiana expungement laws
- Louisiana statute of limitations
This article provides general legal information about Louisiana theft law, not legal advice. Statutes change and their application depends on the facts. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Louisiana.
Last updated: 2026-10-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the felony theft threshold in Louisiana?
Theft of property worth $1,000 or more is punishable by imprisonment with or without hard labor (La. R.S. 14:67(B)(3)), which makes it a felony under R.S. 14:2(A)(4). The $1,000 to under $5,000 tier carries up to 5 years, a fine up to $3,000, or both.
Is stealing $1,000 a felony in Louisiana?
Yes. The statute's felony tier starts at a value of one thousand dollars or more, so property worth exactly $1,000 falls in it.
What is the penalty for theft under $1,000 in Louisiana?
Up to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both (La. R.S. 14:67(B)(4)(a)). With two or more prior theft convictions, the penalty rises to up to 2 years, with or without hard labor, and a $2,000 fine.
Is shoplifting a felony in Louisiana?
Shoplifting is prosecuted as theft under La. R.S. 14:67, so it reaches the felony tiers when the merchandise is worth $1,000 or more. A third or later theft conviction can also carry up to 2 years with or without hard labor even under $1,000.
Is stealing a package a crime in Louisiana?
Yes. Theft of a package delivered to an inhabited dwelling owned by another carries up to 2 years, with or without hard labor, a fine up to $2,000, or both, even under $1,000 (La. R.S. 14:67(B)(4)(b)(ii)). Taking mail from a mail box or a mail carrier with intent to steal is also mail theft under R.S. 14:67.6.
How long can a store hold someone for shoplifting in Louisiana?
Under Code of Criminal Procedure article 215, a merchant with reasonable cause may use reasonable force to detain a person for questioning on the premises for up to 60 minutes, unless a longer detention is reasonable under the circumstances. The detention is not an arrest.
Can a store make me pay after shoplifting in Louisiana?
R.S. 9:2799.1 makes a person who unlawfully takes merchandise liable for its retail value if it is not recovered in merchantable condition, plus damages of $50 to $500, reduced by any restitution ordered as part of a sentence.
Is stealing a gun a felony in Louisiana?
Yes. Theft of a firearm carries 2 to 10 years with or without hard labor for a first offense, without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, and a $1,000 fine (La. R.S. 14:67.15(C)(1)).
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Louisiana Revised Statutes
§ 14:67TheftIn force
A. Theft is the misappropriation or taking of anything of value which belongs to another, either without the consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations. An intent to deprive the other permanently of whatever may be the subject of the misappropriation or taking is essential. B.(1) Whoever commits the crime of theft when the misappropriation or taking amounts to a value of twenty-five thousand dollars or more shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than twenty years, or may be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars, or both. (2) When the misappropriation or taking amounts to a value of five thousand dollars or more, but less than a value of twenty-five thousand dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than ten years, or may be fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or both.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
§ 15:529.1Sentences for second and subsequent offenses; certificate of warden or clerk of court in the state of Louisiana as evidenceIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
A. Any person who, after having been convicted within this state of a felony, or who, after having been convicted under the laws of any other state or of the United States, or any foreign government of a crime which, if committed in this state would be a felony, thereafter commits any subsequent felony within this state, upon conviction of said felony, shall be punished as follows: (1) If the second felony is such that upon a first conviction the offender would be punishable by imprisonment for any term less than his natural life, then the sentence to imprisonment shall be for a determinate term not less than one-third the longest term and not more than twice the longest term prescribed for a first conviction. (2)(a) If the second felony and the prior felony are sex offenses as defined in R.S. 15:541, or the prior felony would be a sex offense as defined in R.S.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 2,484 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Kennerson (Louisiana Court of Appeal 1997, 695 So. 2d 1367)“…jury found the defendant guilty on both counts. Pursuant to La.R.S. 15:529.1, he was subsequently charged as an habi…”
- State v. Shelton (Supreme Court of Louisiana 1993, 621 So. 2d 769)“…ere was sufficient proof of a prior felony conviction under La.R.S. 15:529.1 where the State, at the habitual offend…”
- State v. Allen (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2002, 828 So. 2d 622)“…he defendant's parole and/or probation. The provisions of La. R.S. 15:529.1(A)(1)(b)(ii) stated: (ii) If the thir…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: How Long Is a Life Sentence in Louisiana? (2026 Guide)
§ 14:93.4Exploitation of elderly persons or persons with infirmitiesIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
A. Exploitation of elderly persons or persons with infirmities is: (1) The intentional expenditure, diminution, or use by any person, including a caregiver, of the property or assets of a person with an infirmity, an adult with a disability, or a person who is elderly, including but not limited to a resident of a nursing home, facility for persons with intellectual disabilities, mental health facility, hospital, or other residential facility without the express voluntary consent of the resident or the consent of a legally authorized representative of an incompetent resident, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations. (2) The financial exploitation of elderly persons or persons with an infirmity as defined in R.S. 6:1372. (3) The use of the power of attorney or guardianship of a person with an infirmity, a person who is elderly, or an adult with a disability for one's own profit or advantage by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Also relied on in: Louisiana Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, Your Right to Sue (2026)
§ 14:67.25Organized retail theftIn force
A. As used in this Section the following terms have the following meanings: (1) "Retail establishment" means any business, whether a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or otherwise, that holds or stores articles, products, commodities, items, or components for sale to the public or to other retail establishments. (2) "Retail property" means any article, product, commodity, item, or component intended to be sold to the public or to other retail establishments. (3) "Retail property fence" means any person who knowingly and intentionally procures, receives, or conceals stolen retail property. (4) "Stolen retail property" means either: (a) Retail property or merchandise credit, including but not limited to a gift card, that has been the subject of a theft or the product of a theft from a retail establishment. (b) Retail property or merchandise credit, including but not limited to a gift card, that the offender procuring, receiving, or concealing that property knows or reasonably believes to be the subject of a theft or the product of a theft.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
§ 9:2799.1Civil liability for theft of goods from merchantIn force
A. Any person who unlawfully takes merchandise from a merchant's premises shall be liable to the merchant for the retail value of the merchandise taken, if not recovered in merchantable condition, plus damages of not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars. B. The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to prohibit or limit any other cause of action which a merchant may have against a person who unlawfully takes merchandise from the merchant's premises. C. Any damages under this Section shall be reduced by the amount recovered from the offender as restitution to the merchant as a condition of sentence.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
§ 14:67.15Theft of a firearmIn force
A. Theft of a firearm is the misappropriation or taking of a firearm which belongs to another, either without the consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations. An intent to deprive the other permanently of the firearm is essential. B. For purposes of this Section, "firearm" means a shotgun or rifle, or a pistol, revolver, or other handgun. C.(1) For a first offense, the penalty for theft of a firearm shall be imprisonment with or without hard labor for not less than two years nor more than ten years, without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and a fine of one thousand dollars. (2) For a second offense, the penalty for theft of a firearm shall be imprisonment with or without hard labor for not less than five years nor more than fifteen years, without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and a fine of two thousand dollars.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
§ 14:67.26Theft of a motor vehicleIn force
A. Theft of a motor vehicle is the intentional performance of any of the following acts: (1) The taking of a motor vehicle, which belongs to another, either without the owner's consent or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations, with the intention to permanently deprive the owner of the motor vehicle; or (2) The taking control of a motor vehicle that is lost or mis-delivered under circumstances which provide a means of inquiry as to the true owner, and the person in control of the motor vehicle does not make reasonable efforts to notify or locate the true owner; or (3) The taking control of a motor vehicle when the person knows or should have known that the motor vehicle has been stolen. B.(1) A person who alleges that there has been a theft of a motor vehicle shall attest to that fact by signing an affidavit provided by the law enforcement officer or agency which shall indicate that a person who falsely reports a theft of a motor vehicle may be subject to criminal penalties under Subsection E of this Section.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
§ 14:67.12Theft of a catalytic converter or engine control moduleIn force
A. Theft of a catalytic converter or engine control module is the misappropriation or taking of a catalytic converter or engine control module which belongs to another, either without the consent of the owner to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations. An intent to deprive the owner permanently of the catalytic converter or engine control module is essential. B.(1) Whoever commits the crime of theft of a catalytic converter or engine control module when the misappropriation or taking and any related damage amounts to a value of twenty-five thousand dollars or more shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than ten years nor more than twenty years, or may be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars, or both. (2) When the misappropriation or taking and any related damage amounts to a value of five thousand dollars or more, but less than a value of twenty-five thousand dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than five years nor more than ten years, or may be fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or both.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure
§ 215Detention and arrest of shopliftersIn force
A.(1) A peace officer, merchant, or a specifically authorized employee or agent of a merchant, may use reasonable force to detain a person for questioning on the merchant's premises, for a length of time, not to exceed sixty minutes, unless it is reasonable under the circumstances that the person be detained longer, when he has reasonable cause to believe that the person has committed a theft of goods held for sale by the merchant, regardless of the actual value of the goods. The merchant or his employee or agent may also detain such a person for arrest by a peace officer. The detention shall not constitute an arrest. (2) A peace officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person when he has reasonable grounds to believe the person has committed a theft of goods held for sale by a merchant, regardless of the actual value of the goods. A complaint made to a peace officer by a merchant or a merchant's employee or agent shall constitute reasonable cause for the officer making the arrest.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Explore the law
The laws cited above reference these related sections in their own text:
- Louisiana Revised Statutes § 14:2 — Definitions view in our statute record · read at the official source
- Louisiana Revised Statutes § 15:541 — Definitions view in our statute record · read at the official source
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
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Sources and References
- La. R.S. 14:67, Theft(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:2, Definitions (felony, misdemeanor)(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.10, Repealed (former theft of goods)(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. C.Cr.P. art. 215, Detention and arrest of shoplifters(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 9:2799.1, Civil liability for theft of goods from merchant(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.25, Organized retail theft(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.15, Theft of a firearm(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.26, Theft of a motor vehicle(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 15:529.1, Habitual Offender Law(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:93.4, Exploitation of elderly persons or persons with infirmities(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.1, Theft of livestock(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.2, Theft of timber(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.6, Mail theft(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.7, Theft or unauthorized reproduction of a mail receptacle key or lock(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.12, Theft of a catalytic converter or engine control module(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.13, Theft or criminal access of an automated teller machine(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.19, Theft of anhydrous ammonia(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:67.24, Theft of critical infrastructure(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:68, Unauthorized use of a movable(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:68.1, Unauthorized removal of shopping cart, basket, or dairy case(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:68.4, Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:69, Illegal possession of stolen things(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:69.1, Illegal possession of stolen firearms(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:70.6, Theft alarm deactivation devices(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:68.3, Unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle(www.legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 14:68.7, Receipts and universal product code labels; unlawful acts(www.legis.la.gov).gov
- Act 267 of 2024 (HB 451), resume digest(legis.la.gov).gov
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