Rhode Island Larceny Laws: Felony Threshold, Penalties and Shoplifting

In Rhode Island, larceny becomes a felony when the value "exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500)": under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-5(a)(1), that tier carries up to 3 years in prison, a fine up to $1,500, or both. Larceny of property that does "not exceed" $1,500 carries up to one year, a fine up to $500, or both, which makes it a misdemeanor. Shoplifting has its own statute (11-41-20): a misdemeanor, but a felony when the merchandise is worth over $100 and the person has a prior shoplifting conviction. Taking store merchandise can also fit the general larceny statute (11-41-1), which 11-41-5 grades by value, and 11-41-20 does not say it is the only charge for store theft. For other states, see our guide to theft laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-14. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Rhode Island state larceny law in chapter 11-41 of the Rhode Island General Laws, the felony definition in R.I. Gen. Laws 11-1-2, the habitual criminal statute 12-19-21, and, only where it reaches store theft, the burglary and breaking-and-entering chapter 11-8. It does not cover federal theft offenses, local ordinances, robbery, burglary generally, or identity theft and fraud schemes, which have their own pages linked below.

What counts as larceny in Rhode Island

Rhode Island keeps separate larceny sections rather than one consolidated theft offense. The basic one, R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-1, provides that "Every person who shall steal any money, goods, or chattels, or any note of the general treasurer of this state for the payment of money, ... or other valuable property, ... shall be deemed guilty of larceny."

Other sections in the chapter also make conduct "larceny." Under 11-41-2, "Every person who shall fraudulently receive any stolen money, goods, securities, chattels, or other property, knowing it to be stolen, shall be deemed guilty of larceny, although the person who stole the property may not have been prosecuted or convicted for it." The same section adds that "The possession of any stolen property shall be evidence of guilty knowledge by the person having possession that the property was stolen, unless the person shows that it was acquired in the due course of trade and for adequate consideration."

Embezzlement and fraudulent conversion (11-41-3) is also "larceny," but it has its own penalties, listed in the table further down.

Rhode Island larceny penalties by value

R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-5(a) sets the penalties for any offense under sections 11-41-1 through 11-41-6, except 11-41-3, according to the value of the property or money involved. Attempted larceny is punished the same way: under 11-41-6, a person who attempts larceny "shall, unless otherwise provided, suffer the same punishment which might have been inflicted if the attempted offense had been committed."

The felony line comes from R.I. Gen. Laws 11-1-2: "Unless otherwise provided, any criminal offense which at any given time may be punished by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, or by a fine of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), is declared to be a felony; any criminal offense which may be punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, is declared to be a misdemeanor."

Property worth exactly $1,500 falls in the misdemeanor tier, because that tier covers value that does "not exceed" $1,500. The two higher boundaries read differently. Subsection (a)(1) covers value that "exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and is less than five thousand dollars ($5,000)," subsection (a)(2) covers value that "exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000), but is less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000)," and subsection (a)(3) covers value that "exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000)." The text does not say which tier applies to a value of exactly $5,000 or exactly $10,000. A lawyer licensed in Rhode Island can explain how that question is handled in a particular case.

Section 11-41-5 does not itself define how value is measured or say whether separate thefts may be combined to reach a higher tier.

Larceny graded higher regardless of value

• Firearms. Under 11-41-5(a)(3), the 10-year tier applies "if the property is a firearm as defined in § 11-47-5.1, regardless of its value."
• Receiving from a minor. "Any person convicted of an offense under § 11-41-2 who shall be found to have knowingly obtained the property from a person under eighteen (18) years of age, notwithstanding the value of the property or money, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both" (11-41-5(a)).
• Victims 65 or older. Under 11-41-5(b), a conviction under sections 11-41-1 through 11-41-7, except 11-41-3, "that involves a victim who is a person sixty-five (65) years of age or older at the time of the offense" and property or money "with a value in excess of five hundred dollars ($500), shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two (2) years but not more than fifteen (15) years or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both." At $500 or less, the penalty is "imprisonment for not less than one year but not more than five (5) years or by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both."
• From the person. "Every person who shall steal or attempt to steal from the person of another any money, goods, chattels, or other article enumerated in § 11-41-1, shall be imprisoned not less than one year nor more than ten (10) years" (11-41-7).

Repeat offenses

Under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-24, "Any person who shall be convicted three (3) times for the crime of shoplifting as defined in § 11-41-20 or larceny as defined in § 11-41-1 or receiving stolen goods as defined in § 11-41-2, or who shall have been convicted three (3) times of any combination of the crimes described in this section, shall also be charged as an habitual offender and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) and shall be imprisoned not less than six (6) months nor more than one year."

These are the statutory ranges, not a prediction of any sentence. The general habitual criminal statute can add to them: under R.I. Gen. Laws 12-19-21(a), a person previously convicted "of two (2) or more felony offenses arising from separate and distinct incidents and sentenced on two (2) or more occasions to serve a term in prison" who is then convicted "of any offense punished by imprisonment for more than one year" is a "habitual criminal" and may receive "a term not exceeding twenty-five (25) years, in addition to any sentence imposed for the offense of which he or she was last convicted," after the notice and hearing that section requires.

Shoplifting in Rhode Island

Rhode Island has a separate shoplifting statute, R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-20. Under subsection (b), a person commits shoplifting by:

1. Taking possession of, carrying away or transferring merchandise offered for sale "with the intention of depriving the merchant of all or any part of the full retail value of the merchandise";
2. Altering, transferring or removing a label or price tag and attempting to purchase or purchasing the merchandise "at less than the full retail value" with that intention;
3. Moving merchandise from one container to another in an attempt to purchase or purchase it "at less than the full retail value" with that intention; or
4. Removing a shopping cart from the premises "without the consent of the merchant given at the time of the removal with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use, or benefit of the cart."

Concealment is evidence of intent. If a person conceals unpaid merchandise and "the merchandise has been taken beyond the area within the retail mercantile establishment where payment for it is to be made," that "shall be prima facie evidence" of the intent to deprive the merchant (11-41-20(c)).

Is shoplifting a felony in Rhode Island?

Under 11-41-20(d), "Any person convicted of the crime of shoplifting shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) or two times the full retail value of the merchandise, whichever is greater, but not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both; provided, any person convicted of the crime of shoplifting merchandise with a retail value of over one hundred dollars ($100) who has previously been convicted of shoplifting shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or both."

Store theft can also fit the general larceny statute, 11-41-1: "Every person who shall steal any money, goods, or chattels ... shall be deemed guilty of larceny," and 11-41-5 grades that offense by value, including the felony tiers above $1,500. Section 11-41-20 does not say it is the only charge that can be brought for taking merchandise.

Two other rules can make store theft a felony at any value:

• Concealment devices. Shoplifting "while wearing any article of clothing, or carrying any implement of any kind specifically designed or adapted for the purpose of concealing, carrying away, or otherwise unlawfully removing any merchandise from a store, knowing the clothing or implement to be designed or adapted for that purpose, with the intent to use or employ it or allow it be used or employed for an unlawful purpose," is a felony with "a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both" (11-41-20.1).
• Entering a building to steal. Under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-8-3, "Every person who, with intent to commit murder, sexual assault, robbery, arson or larceny, shall enter any dwelling house or apartment at any time of the day or night, or who with such intent shall, during the daytime, enter any other building, or ship or vessel, shall be imprisoned not more than ten (10) years, or be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both." Separately, breaking and entering a "bank, shop, office or warehouse, not adjoining to or occupied as a dwelling house," with intent to commit larceny carries up to 10 years (11-8-4). Burglary is otherwise outside the scope of this page.

The statutes grade the offense; they do not say which charge a prosecutor will bring or what sentence a court will impose.

Can a store detain someone suspected of shoplifting?

Under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-21(b), a merchant who observes a person concealing merchandise, carrying it past the payment area without paying, removing or altering price tags, or switching containers "may stop the person." The merchant "shall identify himself or herself and state his or her reason for stopping the person." If the merchant then "has reasonable grounds to believe that at the time stopped the person was committing or attempting to commit the crime of shoplifting on the premises, the merchant may detain the person for a reasonable time sufficient to summon a police officer to the premises. In no case shall the detention be for a period exceeding one hour."

Other limits in the same section:

• Detention "must be accomplished in a reasonable manner without unreasonable restraint or excessive force, and may take place only on the premises" of the store where the alleged shoplifting occurred (11-41-21(b)).
• The detained person "shall promptly identify himself or herself by name and address." After that, "no other information shall be required of the person and no written and/or signed statement" may be elicited, except a civil-waiver statement, until police take custody (11-41-21(b)).
• A merchant "may use a reasonable amount of non-deadly force when and only when that force is necessary to protect himself or herself, or to prevent the escape of the person being detained or the loss of his or her property" (11-41-21(e)).
• A merchant may ask the detained person to sign a statement waiving a civil claim over the detention "in return for a signed statement from the merchant waiving the right to bring criminal charges." The form must state at the top, in large print, that the person "has a right to remain silent and a right not to make or sign any statement and a right to call an attorney" (11-41-21(c)(1)).

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

Under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-28(a), "An adult or emancipated minor who commits or attempts to commit a larceny of goods for sale on the premises of a merchant as set forth in § 11-41-20 shall be civilly liable to the merchant in an amount consisting of: (1) Not more than the retail value of the merchandise if not recovered in merchantable condition; plus (2) A penalty of not more than one hundred dollars ($100); plus (3) Court costs."

• No conviction needed. "A conviction or a plea of guilty to the offense of shoplifting is not a prerequisite to the bringing of a civil suit, obtaining a judgment, or collecting that judgment under this section" (11-41-28(c)).
• Demands. A merchant may demand, "orally or in writing," that the person remit the damages before suing (11-41-28(d)). "If the person to whom a written demand is made complies with the demand within twenty (20) days after the receipt of the demand, that person shall be given a written release from further civil liability with respect to the specific act of retail theft; provided, that written demand shall not include penalties" (11-41-28(g)).
• Court. The action may be brought "in any court of competent jurisdiction, including the small claims court of a district court, if the total damages do not exceed the jurisdictional limit of the small claims court" (11-41-28(e)).
• Store employees. A store employee is civilly liable for larceny of goods or cash from the merchant employer for "Not more than the value of the goods or cash," a penalty "of not more than one hundred dollars ($100)," and court costs (11-41-28(b)).

The statute sets what a merchant can recover; it does not say how any particular demand letter should be answered. A lawyer licensed in Rhode Island can advise on a specific letter.

Other theft offenses with their own grades

Chapter 11-41 contains several larceny-type offenses that set their own penalties instead of using 11-41-5:

Some sections instead send their offense to the 11-41-5 value tiers: concealing or removing library property (11-41-14.1), selling or concealing property held under a conditional sale or lease (11-41-16 and 11-41-16.1), and theft of a historic stone wall (11-41-32).

Recent changes to Rhode Island larceny law

• 2021. The history note for R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-5 lists P.L. 2021, ch. 383, § 1 and P.L. 2021, ch. 384, § 1, both effective July 13, 2021, as its most recent amendments. The value tiers described on this page are those in the current text.
• 2022. P.L. 2022, ch. 69 and ch. 70, both effective June 15, 2022, amended 11-41-12, fraudulent conversion by an agent or factor.
• 2014. P.L. 2014, ch. 154 and ch. 166 enacted the farm-products larceny statute, 11-41-33.

The history notes for the shoplifting statute, 11-41-20, and the habitual offender section, 11-41-24, list no amendment after P.L. 1981, ch. 208 and P.L. 1979, ch. 142, respectively.

Related legal issues

False pretenses and other deception-based larceny overlap with fraud and scams, covered in Rhode Island scam and fraud laws. Misuse of another person's identifying information is covered in Rhode Island identity theft laws. Clearing a larceny record is covered in Rhode Island expungement laws, and time limits for bringing charges are in the Rhode Island statute of limitations.

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

Related

• Theft laws by state
• Rhode Island scam and fraud laws
• Rhode Island identity theft laws
• Rhode Island expungement laws
• Rhode Island statute of limitations

This page provides general legal information about Rhode Island larceny statutes as of October 14, 2026. It is not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Rhode Island.

Last updated: 2026-10-14.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the felony theft threshold in Rhode Island?

Larceny is a felony when the value exceeds $1,500: that tier carries up to 3 years, a fine up to $1,500, or both, under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-5(a)(1), and 11-1-2 makes any offense punishable by more than one year a felony. Larceny of $1,500 or less carries up to 1 year, a fine up to $500, or both, a misdemeanor.

Is stealing $1,500 a felony in Rhode Island?

Not on value alone. The misdemeanor tier covers value that does not exceed $1,500, so exactly $1,500 is punishable by up to 1 year, a fine up to $500, or both (11-41-5(a)). Larceny of a firearm, larceny from the person, and larceny from a victim 65 or older carry felony-level penalties at any value.

What is petty larceny in Rhode Island?

The statute does not use the term petty larceny. Larceny of property that does not exceed $1,500 is punished by up to 1 year in prison, a fine up to $500, or both (R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-5(a)), which makes it a misdemeanor under 11-1-2.

Is shoplifting a felony in Rhode Island?

Shoplifting under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-20 is a misdemeanor, but it is a felony punishable by up to 5 years, a fine up to $5,000, or both, when the merchandise is over $100 and the person has a prior shoplifting conviction, or when the person uses clothing or an implement designed to conceal merchandise (11-41-20.1). Entering a building in the daytime with intent to commit larceny is separately punishable by up to 10 years under 11-8-3. Taking store merchandise can also fit the general larceny statute, 11-41-1, which 11-41-5 grades by value (a felony above $1,500), and 11-41-20 does not say it is the only charge for store theft.

How much can a store charge for shoplifting in Rhode Island?

Under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-28, a merchant may recover not more than the retail value of merchandise not recovered in merchantable condition, a penalty of not more than $100, and court costs. No conviction is required, and a written demand may not include the penalty.

How long can a Rhode Island store hold a suspected shoplifter?

Under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-21, a merchant with reasonable grounds may detain the person on the store premises for a reasonable time sufficient to summon a police officer, and in no case for more than one hour.

What happens after a third theft conviction in Rhode Island?

Under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-41-24, a person convicted three times of shoplifting, larceny or receiving stolen goods, in any combination, is also charged as a habitual offender and, upon conviction, faces a fine of $200 to $500 and 6 months to 1 year in prison.