Massachusetts
Massachusetts Larceny Laws: Felony Threshold and Shoplifting (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 14, 2026). · 23 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
In Massachusetts, larceny becomes a felony when the value of the property stolen "exceeds $1,200," or when the property is a firearm of any value (G.L. c. 266, s. 30(1)). Larceny of $1,200 or less is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or a fine of up to $1,500, so property worth exactly $1,200 falls on the misdemeanor side. Shoplifting is charged under its own section, G.L. c. 266, s. 30A, which is graded mainly by fines and by prior offenses. For the rules in 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 Massachusetts larceny and shoplifting statutes in Chapter 266 of the General Laws (chiefly sections 20, 24, 25, 28, 30, 30A to 30D, 40, 41 and 60), the felony definition in G.L. c. 274, s. 1, and three civil provisions in Chapter 231 (sections 85G, 85R 1/2 and 94B). It does not cover federal theft offenses, city or town bylaws, or identity theft and fraud schemes, which have their own pages linked below.
How Massachusetts defines larceny
Massachusetts does not divide theft into "petty theft" and "grand theft" or "petit" and "grand larceny." One statute, G.L. c. 266, s. 30, covers stealing, obtaining property by false pretense and embezzlement under a single name, larceny. Section 30(1) reads in part:
"Whoever steals, or with intent to defraud obtains by a false pretence, or whoever unlawfully, and with intent to steal or embezzle, converts, or secretes with intent to convert, the property of another as defined in this section, whether such property is or is not in his possession at the time of such conversion or secreting, shall be guilty of larceny"
"Property" is defined broadly for that section. Section 30(2) lists money, personal chattels, bank notes, deeds, public records, "electronically processed or stored data, either tangible or intangible, data while in transit, telecommunications services, and any domesticated animal, including dogs, or a beast or bird which is ordinarily kept in confinement," among other items.
What makes a crime a felony in Massachusetts
Massachusetts classifies crimes by where a person can be imprisoned, not by a numbered class. Under G.L. c. 274, s. 1: "A crime punishable by death or imprisonment in the state prison is a felony. All other crimes are misdemeanors." A theft offense whose penalty includes a state prison term is therefore a felony, even if the statute also allows a jail or house of correction sentence instead.
What is the felony theft threshold in Massachusetts?
The line is $1,200. Section 30(1) provides that a person guilty of larceny:
"shall, if the property stolen is a firearm, as defined in section one hundred and twenty-one of chapter one hundred and forty, or, if the value of the property stolen exceeds $1,200, be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years, or by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars and imprisonment in jail for not more than two years; or, if the value of the property stolen, other than a firearm as so defined, does not exceed $1,200 shall be punished by imprisonment in jail for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than $1,500."
Three points follow from that wording:
- Exactly $1,200 is a misdemeanor. The felony tier starts when the value "exceeds $1,200."
- A firearm is a felony at any value. The firearm clause does not depend on value.
- There is no third tier for very high values in Section 30(1). Larceny of $1,201 and larceny of $1 million carry the same statutory maximum of five years in state prison under that subsection (other sections, such as organized retail crime, set higher maximums).
Massachusetts theft grading table
| Value or type of property | Offense and grade | Statutory penalty range |
|---|---|---|
| $1,200 or less (not a firearm) | Larceny, misdemeanor (s. 30(1)) | Up to 1 year in jail or a fine of up to $1,500 |
| More than $1,200, or any firearm | Larceny, felony (s. 30(1)) | Up to 5 years in state prison, or a fine of up to $25,000 and up to 2 years in jail |
| Trade secret, any value | Larceny, felony (s. 30(4)) | Up to 5 years in state prison, or a fine of up to $25,000 and up to 2 years in jail |
| Victim 60 or older or a person with a disability, $250 or less | Larceny, misdemeanor (s. 30(5)) | Up to 2.5 years in the house of correction, a fine of up to $1,000, or both |
| Victim 60 or older or a person with a disability, more than $250 | Larceny, felony (s. 30(5)) | Up to 10 years in state prison or 2.5 years in the house of correction, a fine of up to $50,000, or both |
| Shoplifting, goods under $250, first offense | Shoplifting (s. 30A) | Fine of up to $250 |
| Shoplifting, goods under $250, second offense | Shoplifting (s. 30A) | Fine of $100 to $500 |
| Shoplifting, goods under $250, third or later offense | Shoplifting (s. 30A) | Fine of up to $500, up to 2 years in jail, or both |
| Shoplifting, goods worth $250 or more | Shoplifting (s. 30A) | Fine of up to $1,000, up to 2.5 years in the house of correction, or both |
| Motor vehicle or trailer, any value | Felony (s. 28(a)) | Up to 15 years in state prison, up to 2.5 years in jail or the house of correction, a fine of up to $15,000, or both |
| Organized retail crime, merchandise over $2,500 | Felony (s. 30D(b)) | Up to 10 years in state prison |
| Aggravated organized retail crime, merchandise over $10,000 | Felony (s. 30D(c)) | Up to 15 years in state prison |
The felony and misdemeanor labels in the table apply G.L. c. 274, s. 1: a penalty that includes state prison makes the offense a felony. Every penalty in Section 30A is a fine, a jail term or a house of correction term, none of them in state prison. The ranges are the maximums (and, where stated, minimums) set by the Legislature, not a prediction of the sentence in any case.
Thefts that are felonies regardless of the $1,200 line
Several Massachusetts statutes make a theft a felony because of what was taken, from whom, or where:
- Firearms. Larceny of a firearm is punished in the same way as larceny over $1,200, at any value (s. 30(1)).
- Trade secrets. Section 30(4) covers anyone who steals or copies with intent to convert "any trade secret of another, regardless of value," with the same penalties as larceny over $1,200.
- Older and disabled victims. Section 30(5) applies a lower $250 line when the property belongs to a person "sixty years of age or older, or of a person with a disability as defined in section thirteen K of chapter two hundred and sixty-five." Above $250, the maximum is 10 years in state prison. The same subsection lets the court order restitution "regardless of the value of the property."
- Larceny from the person. Under G.L. c. 266, s. 25(b), "Whoever commits larceny by stealing from the person of another shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in jail for not more than two and one-half years." Section 25(a) sets the same range when the victim is 65 or older, and for a second or subsequent such offense requires "imprisonment for not less than two years," with no reduction, probation or parole until one year has been served.
- Motor vehicles and trailers. Section 28(a) punishes anyone who "steals a motor vehicle or trailer," or knowingly buys, receives or possesses a stolen one, by up to 15 years in state prison. For a second or subsequent offense the sentence "shall not be reduced to less than one year imprisonment," and a prosecution under that subsection "shall not be placed on file or continued without a finding." A conviction also leads to license revocation under Section 28(c).
- Stealing in a building, vessel or vehicle. Section 20 provides that "Whoever steals in a building, ship, vessel or railroad car shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in jail for not more than two years." Section 20B uses the same penalty for stealing in a truck, tractor-trailer, trailer, semi-trailer or freight container, and Section 24 sets a five-year state prison maximum for stealing in a building that is on fire or stealing property removed because of a fire alarm.
Repeat offenses
Section 30 itself has no repeat-offense escalator. Two other sections do:
- Common and notorious thief (s. 40). A person who has a prior larceny conviction "upon indictment" and is again convicted of larceny "upon indictment," or who "is convicted at the same sitting of the court, as principal or accessory before the fact, of three distinct larcenies," may be "adjudged a common and notorious thief" and punished by up to 20 years in state prison or up to two and one-half years in jail.
- Shoplifting under $250 (s. 30A) rises from a fine of up to $250 for a first offense, to $100 to $500 for a second, to up to $500 or up to two years in jail, or both, for a third or later offense.
Adding thefts together
Section 30 contains no clause that adds separate thefts together to reach the $1,200 line. The aggregation rule in Chapter 266 sits in the organized retail crime statute, which provides "that a series of thefts from 1 or more mercantile establishments may be aggregated" (s. 30D(b), (c)).
Warrantless arrests
Section 30(6) lets an officer arrest without a warrant a person the officer has probable cause to believe committed larceny where "the value of the property stolen is more than $250." Note that this arrest figure is $250, not the $1,200 felony line.
Is shoplifting a felony in Massachusetts?
Under the shoplifting statute alone, no: G.L. c. 266, s. 30A penalties stop at two and one-half years in the house of correction, and under c. 274, s. 1 an offense without a state prison term is a misdemeanor. But Section 30A shuts out the general larceny statute only when the goods are worth less than $250. Section 30(1) reaches anyone who "steals" the property of another, and larceny of property worth more than $1,200 under that subsection carries up to 5 years in state prison, a felony. Organized retail crime (s. 30D) and theft-detection-device offenses (s. 30B) are also felonies. Section 30A covers more than carrying goods out of a store. It reaches anyone who intentionally:
- takes possession of, carries away or transfers merchandise offered for sale, with the intention of depriving the merchant of it without paying its value;
- "conceals upon his person or otherwise any merchandise offered for sale" with the same intention;
- alters, transfers or removes a label or price tag and attempts to buy the item at less than full retail value;
- moves merchandise from its container to another container "with intent to deprive the merchant of all or some part of the retail value thereof";
- "records a value for the merchandise which is less than the actual retail value" with intent to deprive the merchant; or
- removes a shopping cart from the store's premises without the merchant's consent, "with the intention of permanently depriving the merchant" of it.
The penalties turn on the retail value and on prior offenses:
"and where the retail value of the goods obtained is less than $250, shall be punished for a first offense by a fine not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars, for a second offense by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars and for a third or subsequent offense by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment in a jail for not more than two years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Where the retail value of the goods obtained equals or exceeds $250, any violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than two and one-half years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. If the retail value of the goods obtained is less than $250, this section shall apply to the exclusion of section thirty."
The last sentence matters: under $250, Section 30A applies "to the exclusion of section thirty," so the general larceny statute does not apply at that value. The exclusion is limited to goods under $250; at higher values Section 30 is not excluded.
A first or second offense under $250 is punishable by a fine only.
Officers may arrest for shoplifting without a warrant on probable cause, and "The statement of a merchant or his employee or agent that a person has violated a provision of this section shall constitute probable cause for arrest" (s. 30A).
Anti-theft devices and receipt fraud
Two companion sections carry state prison terms and are therefore felonies under c. 274, s. 1:
- Theft detection devices (s. 30B). The section covers making, selling or distributing a laminated or coated bag or other device intended to shield merchandise from an electronic or magnetic theft detector; possessing one "with the intent to commit, aid or abet a theft"; possessing or distributing a tool designed to deactivate or remove a theft detection device without the merchant's permission; and intentionally deactivating or removing a theft detection device "prior to purchase, in a retail establishment, with the intent to steal said merchandise." A violation carries up to 2.5 years in the house of correction or up to 5 years in state prison, or a fine of up to $25,000, or both (s. 30B(f)).
- Receipts, price tickets and UPC labels (s. 30C). A person who, "with intent to cheat or defraud a retailer," possesses, uses, makes, alters or counterfeits "a retail sales or return receipt, price ticket or universal product code label" faces up to 2.5 years in the house of correction or up to 5 years in state prison, or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Organized retail crime
Section 30D(b) applies to a person who, "acting in concert with 2 or more persons and within a 180 day period steals, embezzles or obtains by fraud, false pretense or other illegal means retail merchandise valued at more than $2,500 to resell or otherwise reenter such retail merchandise into commerce." Thefts from one or more stores may be aggregated, and the case may be prosecuted in any county where one of the thefts occurred. The penalty is up to 10 years in state prison.
When the merchandise is valued at more than $10,000, the offense is aggravated organized retail crime, with up to 15 years (s. 30D(c)). A person who conspires "as an organizer, supervisor, financier or manager" is a leader of an organized retail theft enterprise and "may be punished by a fine of not more than $250,000 or 5 times the retail value of the merchandise seized at the time of the arrest, whichever is greater, or imprisonment in state prison for not more than 20 years, or both" (s. 30D(d)).
Store detention
Massachusetts addresses store detention through a defense in a civil suit. Under G.L. c. 231, s. 94B, in a lawsuit for false arrest or false imprisonment, it is a defense if the person "was detained in a reasonable manner and for not more than a reasonable length of time by a person authorized to make arrests or by the merchant or innkeeper or his agent or servant authorized for such purpose and if there were reasonable grounds to believe that the person so detained was committing or attempting to commit a violation of section thirty A of chapter two hundred and sixty-six" or larceny of goods for sale on the premises. The statute sets no fixed time limit; it uses "a reasonable length of time."
Can a store demand money after shoplifting in Massachusetts?
Yes, within limits set by statute. G.L. c. 231, s. 85R 1/2 makes a person liable in tort to the merchant if the person "causes damage to the property of a person as a result of a larceny or attempted larceny of said property as set forth in section 30A of chapter 266; commits or attempts to commit a larceny of goods for sale on the premises of a merchant; or commits or attempts to commit a larceny of the personal property of employees or customers or others present on such premises." The section sets how much a merchant can recover on top of actual damages:
"The damages shall be: not more than $50 in addition to any actual damages incurred if the value of the property is less than $50; not more than $250 in addition to any actual damage incurred if the value of the property is more than $50 but less than $250; and not more than $500 in addition to any actual damages incurred if the value of the property is more than $250."
The same section regulates demand letters: "Any correspondence by a merchant, its agents or attorneys that asserts a claim against an individual arising under this section shall identify in detail all of the pertinent information on which the merchant bases its claim." It also provides that "Any person who solicits payment that exceeds the limitations provided by this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500." An action for recovery may be brought under sections 21 to 25 of chapter 218, the small claims procedure.
Parents of minors
A separate statute covers a child's shoplifting. Under G.L. c. 231, s. 85G:
"Parents of an unemancipated child under the age of eighteen and over the age of seven years shall be liable in a civil action for any willful act committed by said child which results in injury or death to another person or damage to the property of another, which shall include any damages resulting from a larceny or attempted larceny of property as set forth in section thirty A of chapter two hundred and sixty-six"
Recovery under that section "shall be limited to the amount of proved loss or damage but in no event shall it exceed five thousand dollars." It is a claim for proven loss, capped at $5,000, not a fixed penalty.
A lawyer licensed in Massachusetts can advise on a specific demand letter.
Recent changes to Massachusetts theft thresholds
An act passed in 2018, St. 2018, c. 69, raised both value lines:
- Larceny, $250 to $1,200. Section 136 struck "two hundred and fifty dollars" from Section 30 in the listed lines and inserted "$1,200" in each instance.
- Shoplifting, $100 to $250. Section 139 struck "one hundred dollars" from Section 30A in the listed lines and inserted "$250" in each instance.
The 2018 change did not reach Section 30(5), which still uses $250 for older and disabled victims. The same act added Section 30(6), which allows a warrantless arrest when the value is more than $250 (St. 2018, c. 69, s. 138).
Other theft offenses with their own grades
Chapter 266 contains many theft sections besides Section 30. These set their own grades instead of following the $1,200 line:
| Section | Offense | Grade and penalty |
|---|---|---|
| s. 20 | Stealing in a building, ship, vessel or railroad car | Up to 5 years in state prison, or a fine of up to $500, or up to 2 years in jail (felony) |
| s. 20B | Stealing in a truck, tractor-trailer, trailer or freight container | Same as s. 20 (felony) |
| s. 24 | Stealing in a building on fire, or property removed because of a fire alarm | Up to 5 years in state prison, or a fine of up to $500 and up to 2 years in jail (felony) |
| s. 25 | Larceny from the person; victim 65 or older | Up to 5 years in state prison or 2.5 years in jail (felony); repeat offense against a victim 65 or older, at least 2 years |
| s. 27 | Stealing a contractor's, builder's or mechanic's tool from a building under construction or repair | First offense up to $100 or up to 6 months, or both; later offense a fine of $100 or 6 months, or both |
| s. 28(a) | Motor vehicle or trailer theft, or knowingly receiving one | Up to 15 years in state prison (felony); 1-year minimum for a second offense |
| s. 33A | Obtaining commercial computer services by fraud | Up to 2.5 years in the house of correction or a fine of up to $3,000, or both |
| s. 41 | Second conviction for larceny of a bicycle worth more than $10 | Up to 5 years in state prison, or a fine of up to $200, or up to 2 years in jail (felony) |
| s. 60 | Buying, receiving or concealing stolen property | $1,200 or less, first offense: up to 2.5 years in the house of correction or a fine of up to $3,000; $1,200 or less, second offense, or more than $1,200: up to 5 years in state prison, up to 2.5 years in the house of correction, a fine of up to $5,000, or both (felony) |
| s. 87 | Larceny of leased or rented personal property | Fine of up to $1,000 or up to 1 year, or both, plus restitution |
| s. 99A | Library materials concealed and removed | More than $250: up to 5 years in state prison or a fine of $1,000 to $25,000, or both (felony); $250 or less: up to 1 year in jail or a fine of $100 to $1,000, or both, plus replacement value |
The table covers the main specialized theft sections that set penalties; Chapter 266 also contains embezzlement provisions for specific officials and fiduciaries (sections 50 to 59) and fraud-based offenses covered on our scams page.
Related legal issues
Obtaining property by false pretense is larceny under Section 30, but broader fraud schemes and how to report them are covered in our guide to Massachusetts scam and fraud laws. Misusing another person's identifying information is a separate offense, covered in Massachusetts identity theft laws. For sealing or clearing a larceny record, see Massachusetts expungement laws, and for filing deadlines see the Massachusetts statute of limitations guide. Federal theft offenses are covered on our theft laws hub.
Related
- Theft laws by state
- Massachusetts scam and fraud laws
- Massachusetts identity theft laws
- Massachusetts expungement laws
- Massachusetts statute of limitations
This article provides general legal information about Massachusetts larceny and shoplifting statutes as of October 13, 2026. It is not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Massachusetts.
Last updated: 2026-10-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the felony theft threshold in Massachusetts?
Larceny is punishable by up to 5 years in state prison, which makes it a felony, when the value of the property stolen exceeds $1,200 or the property is a firearm (G.L. c. 266, s. 30(1); c. 274, s. 1).
Is stealing $1,200 a felony in Massachusetts?
No. The felony tier applies when the value exceeds $1,200. Larceny of property worth $1,200 or less, other than a firearm, carries up to 1 year in jail or a fine of up to $1,500 (G.L. c. 266, s. 30(1)).
What is the penalty for misdemeanor larceny in Massachusetts?
Larceny of $1,200 or less (not a firearm) is punishable by up to 1 year in jail or a fine of up to $1,500 (G.L. c. 266, s. 30(1)). If the victim is 60 or older or has a disability, the $250-or-less tier carries up to 2.5 years in the house of correction, a fine of up to $1,000, or both (s. 30(5)).
Is shoplifting a felony in Massachusetts?
Under the shoplifting statute alone, no. The highest penalty in G.L. c. 266, s. 30A is a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 2.5 years in the house of correction, with no state prison term, so it is a misdemeanor under c. 274, s. 1. Section 30A shuts out the general larceny statute only when the goods are worth less than $250, and larceny of property worth more than $1,200 under s. 30(1) is a felony with up to 5 years in state prison. Organized retail crime (s. 30D) and theft-detection-device offenses (s. 30B) are also felonies.
What is the penalty for a first shoplifting offense in Massachusetts?
If the goods are worth less than $250, a first offense under G.L. c. 266, s. 30A is punishable by a fine of up to $250. If they are worth $250 or more, the range is a fine of up to $1,000, up to 2.5 years in the house of correction, or both.
Is stealing a gun a felony in Massachusetts?
Yes. Larceny of a firearm is punishable by up to 5 years in state prison regardless of value (G.L. c. 266, s. 30(1)).
Is stealing a car a felony in Massachusetts?
Yes. Under G.L. c. 266, s. 28(a), stealing a motor vehicle or trailer is punishable by up to 15 years in state prison, up to 2.5 years in jail or the house of correction, a fine of up to $15,000, or both, with a one-year minimum for a second or subsequent offense.
Can a store make me pay money after shoplifting in Massachusetts?
G.L. c. 231, s. 85R 1/2 makes a person who commits or attempts shoplifting, or larceny of goods for sale on a merchant's premises, liable in tort to the merchant for actual damages plus not more than $50 (property under $50), not more than $250 (more than $50 but less than $250) or not more than $500 (more than $250). A merchant's letter asserting the claim must identify in detail the information it is based on, and anyone who solicits more than these limits faces a fine of up to $500. Separately, s. 85G makes parents of a child over 7 and under 18 liable for proven loss from the child's shoplifting, up to $5,000. A lawyer licensed in Massachusetts can advise on a specific demand letter.
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.
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 266
§ 30Larceny; general provisions and penaltiesIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
Section 30. (1) Whoever steals, or with intent to defraud obtains by a false pretence, or whoever unlawfully, and with intent to steal or embezzle, converts, or secretes with intent to convert, the property of another as defined in this section, whether such property is or is not in his possession at the time of such conversion or secreting, shall be guilty of larceny, and shall, if the property stolen is a firearm, as defined in section one hundred and twenty-one of chapter one hundred and forty, or, if the value of the property stolen exceeds $1,200, be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years, or by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars and imprisonment in jail for not more than two years; or, if the value of the property stolen, other than a firearm as so defined, does not exceed $1,200 shall be punished by imprisonment in jail for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than $1,500.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at malegislature.gov
Also relied on in: Massachusetts Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, How to Sue
§ 30AShoplifting; penalty; arrest without warrantIn force
Section 30A. Any person who intentionally takes possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away or transferred, any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use of benefit of such merchandise or converting the same to the use of such person without paying to the merchant the value thereof; or any person who intentionally conceals upon his person or otherwise any merchandise offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment with the intention of depriving the merchant of proceeds, use or benefit of such merchandise or converting the same to the use of such person without paying to the merchant the value thereof; or any person who intentionally alters, transfers or removes any label, price tag or marking indicia of value or any other markings which aid in determining value affixed to any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment and to attempt to purchase such merchandise personally or in consort with another at less than the full…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at malegislature.gov
§ 30DOrganized retail crime; aggravated organized retail crime; leader of organized retail theft enterprise; penaltyIn force
Section 30D. (a) For purposes of this section, ''retail merchandise'' shall mean 1 or more items of tangible personal property displayed, held, stored or offered for sale in a retail establishment. (b) A person commits an organized retail crime if the person, acting in concert with 2 or more persons and within a 180 day period steals, embezzles or obtains by fraud, false pretense or other illegal means retail merchandise valued at more than $2,500 to resell or otherwise reenter such retail merchandise into commerce; provided, that a series of thefts from 1 or more mercantile establishments may be aggregated; provided further, that said person may be prosecuted in any county where a theft from a mercantile establishment occurred. A violation of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than 10 years.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at malegislature.gov
§ 28Motor vehicle or trailer; theft or concealment; operation without owner's consent after revocation of license; penaltyIn force
Section 28. (a) Whoever steals a motor vehicle or trailer, whoever maliciously damages a motor vehicle or trailer, whoever buys, receives, possesses, conceals, or obtains control of a motor vehicle or trailer, knowing or having reason to know the same to have been stolen, or whoever takes a motor vehicle without the authority of the owner and steals from it any of its parts or accessories, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than fifteen years or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one-half years or by a fine of not more than fifteen thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Evidence that an identifying number or numbers of a motor vehicle or trailer or part thereof has been intentionally and maliciously removed, defaced, altered, changed, destroyed, obliterated, or mutilated, shall be prima facie evidence that the defendant knew or had reason to know that the motor vehicle, or trailer or part thereof had been stolen.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at malegislature.gov
§ 25Larceny by stealing; punishment; victim sixty-five or older; minimum sentence for repeat offendersIn force
Section 25. (a) Whoever commits larceny by stealing from the person of a person sixty-five years or older shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in jail for not more than two and one-half years. Whoever, after having been convicted of said crime commits a second or subsequent such crime, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two years. Said sentence shall not be reduced until one year of said sentence has been served nor shall the person convicted be eligible for probation, parole, furlough, work release or receive any deduction from his sentence for good conduct until he shall have served one year of such sentence; provided, however, that the commissioner of correction may, on the recommendation of the warden, superintendent, or other person in charge of a correctional institution, or the administrator of a county correctional institution, grant to said offender a temporary release in the custody of an officer of such institution for the following purposes only: to attend the funeral of next of kin or spouse; to visit a critically ill close relative or spouse; or to obtain emergency medical services unavailable at…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at malegislature.gov
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 231
§ 85GParents' liability for willful acts of minor childrenIn force
Section 85G. Parents of an unemancipated child under the age of eighteen and over the age of seven years shall be liable in a civil action for any willful act committed by said child which results in injury or death to another person or damage to the property of another, which shall include any damages resulting from a larceny or attempted larceny of property as set forth in section thirty A of chapter two hundred and sixty-six, damage to cemetery property or damage to any state, county or municipal property or damage as set forth in sections one hundred and twenty-six A and one hundred and twenty-six B of chapter two hundred and sixty-six. This section shall not apply to a parent who, as a result of a decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, does not have custody of such child at the time of the commission of the tort. Recovery under this section shall be limited to the amount of proved loss or damage but in no event shall it exceed five thousand dollars.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at malegislature.gov
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Sources and References
- G.L. c. 266, s. 30, Larceny; general provisions and penalties(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 30A, Shoplifting; penalty; arrest without warrant(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 274, s. 1, Felony and misdemeanor defined(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 28, Motor vehicle or trailer; theft or concealment; penalty(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 30D, Organized retail crime; penalty(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 25, Larceny by stealing from the person; victim sixty-five or older(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 20, Stealing in building, ship or railroad car(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 20B, Stealing in trucks, tractors, trailers or freight containers(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 24, Stealing at a fire(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 40, Common and notorious thief(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 30B, Theft detection shielding devices and deactivators(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 30C, Counterfeit receipts, price tickets or UPC labels(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 231, s. 94B, Detention of suspected shoplifters; defense(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 231, s. 85G, Parents' liability for willful acts of minor children(malegislature.gov).gov
- St. 2018, c. 69, sections 136, 138 and 139 (amending G.L. c. 266, ss. 30 and 30A)(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 27, Tools of contractors, builders or mechanics; stealing(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 33A, Obtaining computer services by fraud(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 41, Larceny of bicycles; second conviction(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 60, Stolen goods; buying, receiving or aiding in concealment(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 87, Larceny of leased or rented property(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, s. 99A, Libraries; theft of materials or property(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 266, Crimes against property (chapter index)(malegislature.gov).gov
- G.L. c. 231, s. 85R 1/2, Liability for damage to property as a result of shoplifting or attempted larceny; recovery(malegislature.gov).gov
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