Report a theft in Massachusetts to the local police department or sheriff first and keep the case number. Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 266, § 30, theft becomes a felony at $1,200. Then follow the checklist for what was taken, below.
Massachusetts at a glance
| Felony theft threshold | $1,200. Larceny of property worth more than $1,200, or of any firearm, can be punished by up to five years in state prison, which makes it a felony in Massachusetts. |
|---|---|
| Theft statute | Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 266, § 30 |
| Grading | $1,200 or less (other than a firearm): misdemeanor, up to one year in jail or a fine of up to $1,500. More than $1,200, or any firearm: felony, up to five years in state prison, or a fine of up to $25,000 and up to two years in jail. |
| Vehicle theft | Stealing a motor vehicle or trailer is a separate offense under G.L. c. 266, § 28, punishable by up to fifteen years in state prison regardless of value; the same section covers knowingly receiving or concealing a stolen vehicle and stripping parts from a vehicle taken without authority. |
| State police | Massachusetts State Police |
| Motor vehicles | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) |
| Consumer protection | Massachusetts Attorney General, Consumer Advocacy & Response Division |
| Online police reports | Online reporting for non-emergency theft varies by department in Massachusetts; check the website of the local police department where the theft happened. |
| Lost or stolen gun reporting | Massachusetts requires owners to report the loss or theft of any firearm within 7 days to the State Police and the local licensing authority, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group, which notes that violations can cost an owner a firearm identification card or license to carry. |
| 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 Massachusetts. Use the national tools in the lookup directory. |
Statute text checked on malegislature.gov. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.
Massachusetts by the numbers
| Measure | Massachusetts | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft reports to the FTC, 2024 | 27,141 reports, 388 per 100,000 residents; ranked 6 of 50 | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Fraud and other reports to the FTC, 2024 | 81,434 reports, 1,165 per 100,000 residents; median reported fraud loss $425; total reported fraud losses $210.3M | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Firearms reported stolen from private citizens | 339 a year on average, 4.8 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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts still calls ordinary theft larceny, and its statutes treat two kinds of property as serious no matter their price: firearms and motor vehicles. Whatever was taken, report it to the police department of the city or town where it happened; the Massachusetts State Police handle incidents on state highways and in their own jurisdiction. Whether a local department accepts online reports for minor theft varies, so check its website before visiting a station.
- Bring serial numbers, photos and receipts.
- Ask for the incident number and the officer's name.
- Keep a copy for your insurer and any credit bureau disputes.
Our stolen property guide walks through the order of steps.
Massachusetts theft law and the felony threshold
Larceny is defined and punished under G.L. c. 266, § 30. Massachusetts defines a felony as any crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison (c. 274, § 1), and larceny reaches that level when the property is worth more than $1,200.
- $1,200 or less: up to one year in jail or a fine of up to $1,500, a misdemeanor.
- More than $1,200: up to five years in state prison, or a fine of up to $25,000 and up to two years in jail, a felony.
- Any firearm: treated at the felony level regardless of value.
The two-tier structure means value evidence carries real weight near the $1,200 line. Keep receipts, appraisals and photos, and give them to the investigating officer.
Stolen vehicles and license plates in Massachusetts
Massachusetts does not grade car theft by value. Under G.L. c. 266, § 28, stealing a motor vehicle or trailer is punishable by up to fifteen years in state prison, up to two and a half years in a jail or house of correction, or a fine of up to $15,000. The same section reaches anyone who knowingly buys, receives or conceals a stolen vehicle and anyone who takes a vehicle without authority and strips its parts or accessories.
For plates, the Registry of Motor Vehicles is specific: if one or both plates were reported stolen, you must get a new set with a new number from an RMV Service Center, and you cannot order the replacement online. See the RMV's replacement plate page for current steps. Report the theft to police first, with the plate number and VIN (vehicle identification number), so it enters the national crime database. Our stolen vehicle checklist covers insurance and recovery.
Pawn shops and secondhand sales
We did not find a single statewide holding period to cite for Massachusetts pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers; check the rules of the city or town where the shop operates. If you believe your property is in a shop or listed online, give the details to the investigating officer rather than approaching the seller, and supply serial numbers and photos so the item can be identified. Before buying used electronics, tools or jewelry, read our check-if-stolen guide.
Identity theft and fraud help in Massachusetts
When a theft exposes your identity documents or cards, file at IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan, file a police report, and place a fraud alert or credit freeze. Review your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. For scams and disputes with businesses, the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy & Response Division takes complaints. Our identity theft guide and stolen wallet checklist set out each step.
Gun owners face a deadline. Massachusetts requires reporting the loss or theft of any firearm within 7 days to the State Police and the local licensing authority, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group, and a violation can lead to suspension or revocation of the owner's license. 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 Massachusetts, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Massachusetts.
Sources
- Massachusetts Legislature, G.L. c. 266, § 30
- Massachusetts Legislature, G.L. c. 266, § 28
- Massachusetts Legislature, G.L. c. 274, § 1
- Mass.gov, Order replacement vehicle license plates
- Massachusetts State Police
- Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
- Massachusetts Attorney General, File a consumer complaint
- Giffords Law Center, Reporting Lost and Stolen Firearms