North Carolina Larceny Laws: Felony Threshold, Shoplifting (2026)

In North Carolina, larceny becomes a felony when the goods stolen are worth more than $1,000. North Carolina General Statute 14-72(a) provides that "Larceny of goods of the value of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) is a Class H felony," and larceny of property worth "not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000)" is a Class 1 misdemeanor, so property worth exactly $1,000 is still a misdemeanor on value alone. Several rules make larceny a felony at any value, including theft from the person, theft of a firearm and a fifth larceny after four prior convictions, and shoplifting has its own concealment offense and a list of store-theft felonies. 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 North Carolina larceny and shoplifting law in Chapter 14 of the General Statutes (G.S. 14-72, 14-72.1, 14-72.11, 14-72.12, 14-86.5, 14-86.6 and 14-86.7, plus the other specialized larceny sections of Article 16 listed below), the sentencing ranges in G.S. 15A-1340.17 and 15A-1340.23, and civil liability under G.S. 1-538.2. It does not cover federal theft offenses, city or county ordinances, embezzlement, obtaining property by false pretenses, or identity theft and fraud schemes, which have their own pages linked below.

Felony larceny threshold in North Carolina

North Carolina still uses the word larceny, and G.S. 14-72 is the general section. Subsection (a) sets the value line in plain terms:

"Larceny of goods of the value of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) is a Class H felony. The receiving or possessing of stolen goods of the value of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) while knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the goods are stolen is a Class H felony."

The same subsection provides that, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), larceny, or receiving or possessing stolen goods knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe them stolen, "where the value of the property or goods is not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), is a Class 1 misdemeanor." The boundary matters: the felony starts at more than $1,000, so $1,000 even is a misdemeanor.

Section 14-72 does not define how value is measured. It provides only that "In all cases of doubt, the jury shall, in the verdict, fix the value of the property stolen." G.S. 14-70 provides that "All distinctions between petit and grand larceny are abolished" and that "Unless otherwise provided by statute, larceny is a Class H felony." North Carolina grades larceny as misdemeanor or felony by class, and G.S. 14-73.1 declares misdemeanor larceny and receiving stolen goods to be "petty misdemeanors."

North Carolina larceny and shoplifting penalties

North Carolina sets penalties by offense class, not in the larceny statute itself. Felony ranges come from the structured sentencing chart in G.S. 15A-1340.17, and misdemeanor ranges and fines from G.S. 15A-1340.23. In both charts the range depends on the defendant's prior record, so the figures below are for the lowest prior record or conviction level (level I) and rise from there.

For a Class H felony at prior record level I, the G.S. 15A-1340.17(c) chart sets a presumptive minimum of 5 to 6 months, a mitigated range of 4 to 5 months and an aggravated range of 6 to 8 months. Subsection (d) then pairs each minimum with a maximum term; a 5-month minimum carries a 15-month maximum and a 6-month minimum a 17-month maximum.

For misdemeanors, G.S. 15A-1340.23(b) provides that "Unless otherwise provided for a specific offense, the maximum fine that may be imposed is two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a Class 3 misdemeanor and one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a Class 2 misdemeanor. The amount of the fine for a Class 1 misdemeanor and a Class A1 misdemeanor is in the discretion of the court." At level I the chart allows 1 to 45 days for a Class 1 misdemeanor, 1 to 30 days for Class 2, 1 to 10 days for Class 3 and 1 to 60 days for Class A1. These are statutory ranges, not a prediction of any sentence.

Larceny that is a felony at any value

Subsection 14-72(b) lists six situations in which "The crime of larceny is a felony, without regard to the value of the property in question," and subsection (a) makes each a Class H felony:

• From the person (G.S. 14-72(b)(1)).
• Committed pursuant to a violation of G.S. 14-51, 14-53, 14-54, 14-54.1 or 14-57, the burglary and breaking-or-entering statutes the subdivision lists (G.S. 14-72(b)(2)).
• Of any explosive or incendiary device or substance (G.S. 14-72(b)(3)). The definition expressly excludes fireworks and fuels such as gasoline or butane taken in a form, type or quantity that serves a legitimate nondestructive use.
• Of any firearm (G.S. 14-72(b)(4)), including a gun that cannot be fired when stolen "if it can be made to work." The definition "shall not include air rifles or air pistols."
• Of any record or paper in the custody of the North Carolina State Archives (G.S. 14-72(b)(5)).
• After four prior larceny convictions (G.S. 14-72(b)(6)), explained in the next section.

Subsection (c) applies the same rule to receiving or possessing stolen goods: knowingly receiving or possessing goods stolen "in the circumstances described in subsection (b)" is a felony "without regard to the value of the property in question," and subsection (a) classes it as a Class H felony.

G.S. 14-72(b) is not the only route to a felony below $1,000: other sections of Article 16 grade particular kinds of larceny themselves, listed under "Other theft offenses with their own grades" below.

Stolen mail is sentenced one class higher

A 2025 amendment added G.S. 14-72(c1): "where the larceny or receiving or possession of stolen goods is of mail, the person shall be sentenced at one class level higher than the principal offense for which the person was convicted." The subsection defines mail broadly as "a letter, package, bag, or other item of value sent or delivered to another by any method of delivery, including through a common carrier, commercial delivery service, or private delivery." It applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025.

Repeat larceny: the four-prior rule

G.S. 14-72 contains no step-up for a second or third larceny; its repeat rule starts with the fifth. Under G.S. 14-72(b)(6), larceny is a Class H felony at any value when it is:

"Committed after the defendant has been convicted in this State or in another jurisdiction for any offense of larceny under this section, or any offense deemed or punishable as larceny under this section, or of any substantially similar offense in any other jurisdiction, regardless of whether the prior convictions were misdemeanors, felonies, or a combination thereof, at least four times."

Two counting rules limit which priors count. A prior conviction counts only if "the defendant was represented by counsel or waived counsel at first appearance or otherwise prior to trial or plea." And if a person is convicted of more than one misdemeanor larceny "in a single session of district court, or in a single week of superior court or of a court in another jurisdiction, only one of the convictions may be used," except that offenses that occurred in separate counties each count separately.

The shoplifting concealment statute has its own, separate repeat ladder, covered below. G.S. 14-72 itself contains no rule for adding together separate thefts. The organized retail theft statute, covered below, has its own aggregation rule.

Other theft offenses with their own grades

Article 16 of Chapter 14 contains specialized larceny and related offenses that set their own grade instead of following the $1,000 line in G.S. 14-72:

For larceny of livestock or a dog, G.S. 14-81(b) requires the judge, "as a minimum punishment," to place the person on probation with conditions of restitution and a fine "of not less than the amount of the damages or loss."

The crops section changes on December 1, 2026 (S.L. 2026-11): a first offense under G.S. 14-78 will be a Class H felony "punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)" in addition to other punishment, and a second or subsequent offense a Class G felony with a fine of not less than $500.

Shoplifting in North Carolina

North Carolina charges store theft in several ways. Taking goods can be ordinary larceny under G.S. 14-72, graded by the $1,000 line, and concealing unpaid goods inside the store is a separate offense under G.S. 14-72.1, even before the person leaves.

Concealment of merchandise (G.S. 14-72.1)

G.S. 14-72.1(a) provides:

"Whoever, without authority, willfully conceals the goods or merchandise of any store, not theretofore purchased by such person, while still upon the premises of such store, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in subsection (e). Such goods or merchandise found concealed upon or about the person and which have not theretofore been purchased by such person shall be prima facie evidence of a willful concealment."

Subsection (d) makes it the same misdemeanor to switch a price tag or product code to higher-priced goods, mark goods at a lower price, or put on a false price tag, and then present the goods for purchase. The statute adds that "the mere possession of goods or the production by shoppers of improperly priced merchandise for checkout" is not prima facie evidence of guilt.

Subsection (e) sets a repeat ladder with conditions on any suspended jail term:

• First conviction: Class 3 misdemeanor. The term "may be suspended only on condition that the defendant perform community service for a term of at least 24 hours."
• Second offense within three years of a conviction under the section: Class 2 misdemeanor. The term may be suspended only on condition of at least 72 hours of imprisonment as a condition of special probation, at least 72 hours of community service, or both.
• Third or later offense within five years of two other convictions under the section: Class 1 misdemeanor. The term may be suspended only if special probation requires at least 11 days of imprisonment.

A judge who finds that the defendant cannot perform the required service because of "mental or physical infirmity," and states the reasons in the judgment, "may pronounce such other sentence as the judge finds appropriate." For active terms, G.S. 14-72.1(g) bars credit for the first 24 hours spent in jail pending trial and requires the mandatory minimum to be served without good or gain time reducing it.

Two forms of the offense are Class H felonies outright:

• Shielding bags and clothing. Under G.S. 14-72.1(d1), a person who conceals goods "by using a lead-lined or aluminum-lined bag, a lead-lined or aluminum-lined article of clothing, or a similar device to prevent the activation of any antishoplifting or inventory control device is guilty of a Class H felony."
• Large price switches. Under G.S. 14-72.1(d2), switching a price tag, product code or other price mechanism to goods "having a selling price in excess of two hundred dollars ($200.00) higher" than the tag's original goods, and then presenting them for purchase, is a Class H felony.

Larceny from a merchant (G.S. 14-72.11)

G.S. 14-72.11 makes larceny against a merchant a Class H felony, whatever the general $1,000 line would say, in these circumstances:

• Taking property worth "more than two hundred dollars ($200.00)" and using "an exit door erected and maintained to comply with the requirements of" the federal exit-route rules in 29 C.F.R. 1910.36 and 1910.37 to leave the store.
• "Removing, destroying, or deactivating a component of an antishoplifting or inventory control device," a phrase the section defines to include product security tags, shelving, security cameras and security systems.
• Taking "infant formula valued in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00)."
• "Exchanging property for cash, a gift card, a merchandise card, or some other item of value, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe the property is stolen."
• Fraudulently creating a product code or other price mechanism, affixing one created by someone other than the merchant or manufacturer, or knowingly presenting goods carrying such a code, to obtain goods "at less than its actual sale price." The section defines the price mechanism to include a price tag, a UPC or a QR code.

Subdivision (3) of the section was repealed effective December 1, 2024.

Gift card larceny (G.S. 14-72.12)

Since December 1, 2025, G.S. 14-72.12 makes it larceny of gift cards to acquire or keep a gift card or its redemption information without the consent of the cardholder or issuer, to obtain one by false or fraudulent pretenses, or to alter or tamper with a gift card or its packaging with intent to defraud. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor if the value involved "is not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000)," and "Any other violation of this section is a Class H felony."

Organized retail theft (G.S. 14-86.6)

Organized retail theft is a separate, conspiracy-based offense. Under G.S. 14-86.6(a), a person commits it by, among other things, conspiring with another person "to commit theft of retail property from retail establishments with the intent to sell, transfer, or possess that retail property for monetary or other gain," knowingly receiving or possessing property stolen that way, or conspiring with two or more others as an organizer, supervisor, financier, leader or manager of a scheme to transfer or sell property stolen from a merchant. Since December 1, 2025, conspiracies and schemes involving gift cards are included.

G.S. 14-86.6(a2) grades the offense by value "aggregated over a 90-day period":

• Exceeding $1,500: Class H felony.
• Exceeding $20,000: Class G felony.
• Exceeding $50,000: Class F felony.
• Exceeding $100,000: Class C felony.

For this offense, value means "The retail value of an item as advertised by the affected retail establishment, to include all applicable taxes" (G.S. 14-86.5(8)). Under G.S. 14-86.6(c), thefts "occurring in more than one county may be aggregated into an alleged violation of this section," and property interests acquired through the offense are subject to forfeiture under subsection (b).

G.S. 14-86.7 adds two Class A1 misdemeanors for people who conspire to steal retail property worth more than $1,000: damaging, destroying or defacing property worth more than $1,000 during the theft, and committing an assault and battery on a store employee, independent contractor or law enforcement officer during the theft.

Can a store detain someone suspected of shoplifting?

North Carolina's larceny and concealment statutes address detention as a shield from civil liability. Under G.S. 14-72.1(c), and in the same words for larceny of store merchandise under G.S. 14-72(d), a merchant, the merchant's agent or employee, or a peace officer who detains or causes the arrest of a person "shall not be held civilly liable for detention, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, or false arrest" when the detention:

• is "upon the premises of the store or in a reasonable proximity thereto,"
• is "in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time," and
• rests on "probable cause to believe that the person committed the offense."

If the person detained is under 18, the merchant or employee "shall call or notify, or make a reasonable effort to call or notify the parent or guardian of the minor, during the period of detention."

Civil liability: can a store make you pay after shoplifting?

G.S. 1-538.2 creates a civil claim, separate from any criminal case, against a person other than an unemancipated minor who commits an act punishable under the larceny, concealment, larceny-from-a-merchant, gift card, organized retail theft and related statutes. Under subsection (a), the owner may recover:

• the value of goods destroyed, or the loss of value of goods recovered, or money lost through employee theft, embezzlement or fraud;
• loss to real or personal property caused in the act; and
• "any consequential damages, and punitive damages, together with reasonable attorneys' fees."

Consequential damages "shall not be less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) and shall not exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000)," except that acts punishable under G.S. 14-74, 14-86.6, 14-86.7 or 14-90 have no maximum. Subsection (c1) says consequential damages include the salary of employees for time spent on investigating, reporting or testifying, and costs such as mileage, postage, stationery or telephone expenses.

A conviction is not required. Under G.S. 1-538.2(c), "An action may be brought under this section regardless of whether a criminal action is brought or a criminal conviction is obtained for the act alleged in the civil action."

For an unemancipated minor, G.S. 1-538.2(b) makes the parent or legal guardian liable only if that adult "knew or should have known of the propensity of the child to commit such an act; and had the opportunity and ability to control the child, and made no reasonable effort to correct or restrain the child." Against a parent or guardian the owner may recover the same amounts except punitive damages, with consequential damages again between $150 and $3,000.

The section sets what an owner may recover in court; it contains no procedure for a pre-suit demand letter. A lawyer licensed in North Carolina can advise on a specific letter or claim.

Recent changes to North Carolina theft law

• December 1, 2026 (S.L. 2026-11, upcoming). Rewrites G.S. 14-78, larceny of ungathered crops: Class H felony with a fine of at least $250 for a first offense, Class G felony with a fine of at least $500 for a second or subsequent offense.
• December 1, 2025 (S.L. 2025-71). Added G.S. 14-72.12, larceny of gift cards; added G.S. 14-72(c1), sentencing larceny or possession of mail one class higher; brought gift card conspiracies and schemes into organized retail theft (G.S. 14-86.6); and added gift card larceny to the civil liability statute (G.S. 1-538.2).
• December 1, 2024 (S.L. 2024-22). Repealed subdivision (3) of G.S. 14-72.11 and amended the concealment and organized retail theft sections.
• 2022 (S.L. 2022-30). Enacted G.S. 14-86.7 (damage to property and assault during organized retail theft).

Related legal issues

Larceny often overlaps with other offenses. Schemes that obtain money or property by deception are covered in North Carolina scam and fraud laws, and misuse of someone's personal identifying information in North Carolina identity theft laws. Whether a larceny or shoplifting conviction can be cleared from a record is covered in North Carolina expungement laws, and filing deadlines in the North Carolina statute of limitations guide.

Federal theft offenses are covered on our theft laws by state hub.

Related

• Theft laws by state
• North Carolina scam and fraud laws
• North Carolina identity theft laws
• North Carolina expungement laws
• North Carolina statute of limitations

This page provides general legal information about North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

Last updated: 2026-10-13.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the felony theft amount in North Carolina?

Larceny becomes a Class H felony when the goods are worth more than $1,000 (G.S. 14-72(a)). Larceny of property worth $1,000 or less is a Class 1 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-72(a) unless G.S. 14-72(b) or another statute grades it higher, for example a catalytic converter (G.S. 14-72.8), a dog (G.S. 14-81) or construction-site goods worth more than $300 (G.S. 14-72.6).

Is stealing $1,000 a felony in North Carolina?

No, not on value alone. G.S. 14-72(a) makes larceny a felony only when the value is more than $1,000, and treats property worth not more than $1,000 as a Class 1 misdemeanor, so exactly $1,000 is a misdemeanor unless, for example, the property is a firearm or was taken from the person.

Is shoplifting a felony in North Carolina?

It depends on the value and the method. Concealing store goods is a Class 3 misdemeanor for a first conviction under G.S. 14-72.1(e), and larceny of goods worth $1,000 or less is a Class 1 misdemeanor. It is a Class H felony when the goods are worth more than $1,000 or when a listed tactic is used, such as a lined bag, leaving through an exit door maintained to comply with federal exit-route rules (29 C.F.R. 1910.36 and 1910.37) with more than $200 in goods, or disabling a security tag (G.S. 14-72.1(d1), 14-72.11).

What is the penalty for a first shoplifting offense in North Carolina?

A first conviction for concealment of merchandise is a Class 3 misdemeanor (G.S. 14-72.1(e)), which at prior conviction level I carries 1 to 10 days and a fine of up to $200 (G.S. 15A-1340.23). Any jail term may be suspended only on condition of at least 24 hours of community service.

What is the difference between misdemeanor and felony larceny in North Carolina?

G.S. 14-70 abolishes all distinctions between petit and grand larceny, and G.S. 14-73.1 calls misdemeanor larceny a petty misdemeanor. Larceny of $1,000 or less is a Class 1 misdemeanor and larceny of more than $1,000 is a Class H felony, and some larcenies are felonies at any value under G.S. 14-72(b) or another section of Article 16.

How many prior larcenies make a new larceny a felony in North Carolina?

Four. Under G.S. 14-72(b)(6), larceny is a Class H felony at any value if the defendant has at least four prior larceny convictions, whether misdemeanors or felonies, counting only convictions where the defendant had or waived counsel.

Is stealing a gun a felony in North Carolina?

Yes. Larceny of any firearm is a Class H felony without regard to value (G.S. 14-72(a), (b)(4)). The statutory definition excludes air rifles and air pistols.

Can a store sue me for shoplifting in North Carolina?

G.S. 1-538.2 lets the property owner sue for the value of goods destroyed or lost value of goods recovered, consequential damages of at least $150 and no more than $3,000, punitive damages and reasonable attorneys' fees. The action may be brought whether or not a criminal case is brought or a conviction is obtained.

Can a store detain a suspected shoplifter in North Carolina?

G.S. 14-72.1(c) and 14-72(d) protect a merchant, employee or peace officer from civil liability for a detention on or near the store premises that is reasonable in manner and length and based on probable cause. If the person detained is under 18, the merchant must call or make a reasonable effort to call a parent or guardian.