Report a theft in Delaware to the local police department or sheriff first and keep the case number. Under Delaware Code Title 11, § 841, theft becomes a felony at $1,500. Then follow the checklist for what was taken, below.
Delaware at a glance
| Felony theft threshold | $1,500. Theft of property with an aggregate value of more than $1,500 is a class G felony in Delaware; theft from a victim 62 or older, an impaired adult or a person with a disability is a felony at any value. |
|---|---|
| Theft statute | Delaware Code Title 11, § 841 |
| Grading | Up to $1,500: class A misdemeanor (class G felony if the victim is 62 or older, an impaired adult or a person with a disability). More than $1,500: class G felony (class F with such a victim). More than $50,000 but less than $100,000: class D felony. $100,000 or more: class B felony. |
| Vehicle theft | Theft of a motor vehicle is a separate offense under 11 Del. C. § 841A and is a class G felony regardless of value. |
| State police | Delaware State Police |
| Motor vehicles | Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles |
| Consumer protection | Delaware Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Unit |
| Online police reports | Online reporting varies by department. The Delaware State Police homepage does not list an online crime report form; it links to Delaware Crime Stoppers for anonymous tips. |
| Lost or stolen gun reporting | Delaware requires owners to report a lost or stolen firearm within seven days of discovering the loss or theft, according to the Giffords Law Center (an advocacy group's summary). |
| Pawn and secondhand dealers | No statewide holding period was found; rules are set by cities or counties. |
| Official stolen property lookups | No public state-run lookup was found for Delaware. Use the national tools in the lookup directory. |
Statute text checked on delcode.delaware.gov. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.
Delaware by the numbers
| Measure | Delaware | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft reports to the FTC, 2024 | 3,942 reports, 392 per 100,000 residents; ranked 5 of 50 | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Fraud and other reports to the FTC, 2024 | 18,870 reports, 1,876 per 100,000 residents; median reported fraud loss $466; total reported fraud losses $34.3M | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Firearms reported stolen from private citizens | 367 a year on average, 37.1 per 100,000 residents (2019 to 2023) | ATF National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment |
These figures count reports made to federal agencies, so they measure what was reported, not every theft. National context is on the theft statistics page.
Reporting a theft in Delaware
In Delaware, report a theft to the municipal police department if it happened inside a city or town that has one, and otherwise to the Delaware State Police. Call 911 for a crime in progress.
We did not find a statewide online report form; the State Police homepage points the public to Delaware Crime Stoppers for anonymous tips, which is not the same as filing a report as a victim. Some municipal departments may offer online filing, so check your department's site. Two Delaware programs depend on a police report:
- The DMV tells owners of stolen plates to report the theft to police first.
- The Attorney General's Identity Theft Passport requires a police report.
Keep the report number and ask for a copy.
Delaware theft law and the felony threshold
Delaware's general theft statute, 11 Del. C. § 841, makes theft a felony when the aggregate value is more than $1,500:
- Up to $1,500: class A misdemeanor.
- More than $1,500: class G felony.
- More than $50,000 but less than $100,000: class D felony.
- $100,000 or more: class B felony.
What sets Delaware apart is its protection for vulnerable victims. When the victim is 62 or older, an impaired adult or a person with a disability, theft of any value is a class G felony, and theft of more than $1,500 rises to a class F felony. Families handling an older relative's finances should keep that in mind when reporting. Related offenses include organized retail crime (§ 841B), a felony for repeat offenders. This is general information; prosecutors decide the actual charge.
Stolen vehicles and license plates in Delaware
Delaware treats vehicle theft as its own crime. Under 11 Del. C. § 841A, taking or controlling another person's motor vehicle with intent to deprive the owner of it is a class G felony, regardless of the vehicle's value. The definition covers self-propelled road vehicles and excludes mopeds, off-highway vehicles and motorized wheelchairs.
For stolen plates, the Delaware DMV's stolen plate FAQ says to report the theft to police first. A duplicate can be ordered at any DMV facility, and the DMV issues a temporary tag while it is on order. The DMV recommends getting a new plate number, because whoever took the plate may be using it on another vehicle; that requires your title and proof of insurance, and the DMV has a form to request the title from a lienholder. Check the DMV fees page for the current charge. We did not find a public state stolen vehicle search; see check if stolen and our stolen vehicle guide.
Pawn shops and secondhand sales
We did not verify a statewide pawn holding period for Delaware for this page, so rules may vary by jurisdiction. If you find an item you believe is yours in a pawn shop or online listing, give police the serial number and your report number and let officers make contact. Our stolen property guide explains how to prove ownership.
Identity theft and fraud help in Delaware
Delaware issues an Identity Theft Passport. The Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Unit issues it to victims who have filed a police report with the agency covering their home; the application can be submitted at the same time. The passport documents the theft for creditors and police, can help prevent an arrest for crimes committed in the victim's name, and supports disputes with creditors and credit bureaus. The unit also offers an Identity Theft Victim Kit with an affidavit for creditors and takes consumer complaints through the Consumer Protection Unit site.
Report to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov as well. Gun owners have seven days to report a lost or stolen firearm; see the stolen firearm guide and our identity theft guide.
Checklists for what was stolen
Each guide opens with a checklist in the order to act, with a free printable PDF.
- Domain names
- Identity theft
- Vehicles
- Social media and email
- SIM swap and phone numbers
- Stolen phones
- Bicycles and e-bikes
- Packages and mail
- Wallets, cards and checks
- Passports
- Firearms
- Art and collectibles
- Cryptocurrency
This page is general information about Delaware, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Delaware.
Sources
- Delaware Code Title 11, Chapter 5, Subchapter III (§§ 841, 841A)
- Delaware DMV, Stolen License Plate FAQ
- Delaware Department of Justice, Identity Theft Passport
- Delaware Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Unit
- Delaware State Police
- Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles
- Giffords Law Center, Reporting Lost and Stolen Firearms (advocacy group)