What to do when something is stolen in Indiana

Indiana at a glance

Statute text checked on law.justia.com. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.

Indiana by the numbers

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 Indiana

In Indiana, the report goes to the police department or county sheriff where the theft happened, and many cities now take simple cases online. In Bloomington, for example, residents can file online for general theft, theft from a vehicle or building, fraud and scams, vandalism and lost property. The system is limited to incidents inside the department's jurisdiction with no known suspect, no evidence that could identify one (including surveillance video) and no injuries; the filer must be 18 or older. Other Indiana cities and counties run their own systems or take reports by phone.

The Indiana State Police offers an online form for internet crimes but not for ordinary household thefts. Call 911 for a theft in progress. Our stolen property guide explains what to record before you file.

Indiana theft law and the felony threshold

Indiana's theft statute, Indiana Code § 35-43-4-2, starts every theft as a Class A misdemeanor and raises it by value or by the type of property taken. Theft becomes a felony at $750:

• Under $750: Class A misdemeanor.
• $750 to under $50,000: Level 6 felony.
• $50,000 or more: Level 5 felony.

Indiana's felony classes run from Level 1 (most serious) to Level 6 (least serious). Several categories skip the value test. A motor vehicle or vehicle component part is a Level 6 felony at any value, as is any theft by a person with a prior conviction for theft, criminal conversion, robbery or burglary. A firearm is a Level 5 felony, the same grade as a $50,000 theft, and so is theft of certain metal whose absence creates a risk of injury, such as metal taken from transportation or public safety infrastructure.

Stolen vehicles and license plates in Indiana

Because Indiana makes vehicle theft a felony regardless of value, even an older car of little market value, or a part taken from a vehicle, can support a felony charge. A second conviction for vehicle or parts theft is a Level 5 felony. Report the theft to local police with the plate and VIN (vehicle identification number), then notify your insurer and lender.

We found no public stolen vehicle or plate search run by the State of Indiana. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles does not post stolen plate instructions on its registration pages; contact the BMV or visit a branch with your police case number to replace a stolen plate, and keep the case number in case the plate is later used on another vehicle. For a used car purchase, see our guide to checking if an item is stolen and our stolen vehicle checklist.

Pawn shops and secondhand sales

We did not confirm a statewide pawn or secondhand dealer holding period for Indiana, and local reporting rules can differ by city or county, so ask the officer on your case whether pawn and secondhand records are checked locally. Provide serial numbers, photos and distinguishing marks, and leave any recovery to police.

Identity theft and fraud help in Indiana

The Indiana Attorney General's Identity Theft Unit provides investigative support for prosecuting identity thieves, an online identity theft complaint form, credit freeze guidance and security breach information. Report identity theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and to local police, and use the Consumer Protection Division for scams and deceptive businesses. Indiana does not require gun owners to report a lost or stolen firearm, according to the Giffords Law Center, though firearm theft is a Level 5 felony and a prompt report protects the owner; see our stolen firearm guide and identity theft checklist.

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 Indiana, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Indiana.