What to do when something is stolen in Louisiana

Louisiana at a glance

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

Louisiana 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 Louisiana

In Louisiana, the dollar value of what was taken decides almost everything that follows, from how the case is charged to how hard investigators push it. Start with a police report, because insurers, lenders and the Office of Motor Vehicles all ask for one. Report to the agency with jurisdiction where the theft happened: the city police department inside city limits, the parish sheriff elsewhere, and the Louisiana State Police for matters on state highways or when a local agency refers you there.

New Orleans offers a faster route for some losses. The New Orleans Police Department's online reporting system takes reports of theft, lost property and property damage, issues a case number, and lets you download a copy of the report. It does not accept auto theft or anything involving a firearm; those must be reported to an officer. Elsewhere, online reporting varies by department.

• List serial numbers, photos and receipts before you file.
• Keep the case number for insurers and credit disputes.

Our stolen property guide walks through the full sequence.

Louisiana theft law and the felony threshold

Theft is defined and graded in La. R.S. 14:67. Louisiana treats a crime as a felony when it can be punished by imprisonment at hard labor, and theft reaches that line at $1,000. The tiers are:

• Under $1,000: up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. With two or more prior theft convictions, the penalty rises to up to two years, with or without hard labor.
• $1,000 to under $5,000: up to five years, with or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $3,000.
• $5,000 to under $25,000: up to ten years, with or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $10,000.
• $25,000 or more: up to twenty years at hard labor and a fine of up to $50,000.

Value matters, so document it. A receipt or appraisal can move a case from one tier to the next. The state legislature's site did not load during our research; the figures above come from a published copy of the statute, and readers should confirm the current text with the Louisiana Legislature or an attorney.

Stolen vehicles and license plates in Louisiana

Louisiana charges car theft under its own statute, La. R.S. 14:67.26, theft of a motor vehicle. The grading mirrors general theft: up to six months when the vehicle is worth under $1,000, rising to up to twenty years at hard labor when it is worth $25,000 or more. Because most vehicles are worth well over $1,000, a typical car theft is charged as a felony.

Report a stolen vehicle to police by phone or in person, not online; the New Orleans online system specifically excludes auto theft. New Orleans also publishes an auto theft affidavit page for vehicle owners. Give officers the VIN (vehicle identification number) and plate number so the vehicle can be entered into the national crime database. Then tell your insurer and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, and check the office's current instructions for replacing a stolen plate. Our stolen vehicle checklist covers the rest.

Pawn shops and secondhand sales

Louisiana gives investigators a window to find stolen goods before they disappear. Under La. R.S. 37:1867, a secondhand dealer may not sell, dispose of or change the identity of purchased goods until thirty calendar days have passed from the date of purchase, and must keep the items at the business or elsewhere in the same parish during that period. Dealers must make an item available immediately when a law enforcement agency asks for it.

That thirty-day hold is the reason to report quickly and to hand police serial numbers and photos. If you spot your property in a shop or online listing, give the details to the investigating officer rather than confronting the seller. Before buying used goods yourself, use our check-if-stolen guide.

Identity theft and fraud help in Louisiana

Identity theft often follows a stolen wallet, phone or mail. File a report at IdentityTheft.gov, which produces a recovery plan, and file a local police report as well. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the credit bureaus and review your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.

For scams, deceptive business practices and consumer complaints, contact the Louisiana Attorney General's Public Protection division, which handles consumer protection for the state. Our identity theft guide and stolen wallet checklist list the steps in order.

Louisiana has no statewide duty to report a lost or stolen gun, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group; reporting still protects you. See our stolen firearm 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 Louisiana, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Louisiana.