What to do when something is stolen in Michigan

Michigan at a glance

Statute text checked on legislature.mi.gov. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.

Michigan 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 Michigan

Michigan is one of the few states that funds a dedicated auto theft agency through drivers' insurance, and its reporting rules reflect how seriously it treats vehicle crime. Report most thefts to the city, township or county agency where they happened, or to the Michigan State Police post that covers the area.

In Detroit, the rules depend on the crime. The City of Detroit says that stolen vehicles within the city must be reported in person at any Detroit Police precinct, while other non-emergency incidents that are already over, such as break-ins, can go through the department's telephone reporting line. Online reporting for minor theft varies by department elsewhere in the state.

• Collect serial numbers, photos and receipts first.
• Get the incident number and keep a copy for insurers.

Our stolen property guide lists the steps in order.

Michigan theft law and the felony threshold

Michigan's general larceny statute is MCL 750.356. Larceny becomes a felony at $1,000.

• Under $200: misdemeanor, up to 93 days or a fine of up to $500.
• $200 to under $1,000: misdemeanor, up to 1 year or a fine of up to $2,000.
• $1,000 to under $20,000: felony, up to 5 years or a fine of up to $10,000.
• $20,000 or more: felony, up to 10 years or a fine of up to $15,000.

At every tier the fine may instead be three times the value of the property, whichever is greater, which makes documenting value worth the effort. Prior convictions can move a charge up a tier: a second offense in the $200 to $1,000 range, for example, can be charged as a five-year felony. The statute also sets special valuation rules for stolen scrap metal.

Stolen vehicles and license plates in Michigan

Michigan prosecutes car theft under its own felony, MCL 750.413, taking possession of and driving away a motor vehicle, often called UDAA (unlawfully driving away an automobile). It carries up to five years in state prison whatever the vehicle is worth.

The state backs enforcement with the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA), created in 1986 and made permanent in 1992. It is funded by an annual $1 assessment on each insured private passenger vehicle and awards grants to police, prosecutors and nonprofits. The Michigan State Police Automobile Theft Prevention Authority, 2025 ATPA Annual Report (a file labeled final draft) states that Michigan recorded 23,649 vehicle thefts in 2024, down 6.3% from 2023, that ATPA-funded teams recovered $80,882,078 in vehicles in fiscal 2025, and that Wayne County accounted for 7,088 of 14,054 thefts from January to October 2025.

Report the theft with the VIN (vehicle identification number) and plate, then notify your insurer and the Michigan Department of State for plate questions. Our stolen vehicle checklist has the rest.

Pawn shops and secondhand sales

Jewelry is the most traceable stolen property in Michigan's secondhand market. Under the Precious Metal and Gem Dealer Act, MCL 445.485, a dealer must keep each precious item for 9 calendar days after receiving it, without alteration beyond what an appraisal requires. Report quickly and give police photos so they can check dealers within that window. For other goods, rules vary by city. See our check-if-stolen guide before buying used items.

Identity theft and fraud help in Michigan

Use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan, file a police report, and place a fraud alert or credit freeze; review reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection team takes complaints about scams and businesses. See our identity theft guide.

Gun owners have a legal duty: under MCL 28.430, the theft of a firearm must be reported to the police agency with jurisdiction within 5 days of learning of it, with a civil fine of up to $500 for failing to do so. The rule covers stolen guns, not lost ones. 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 Michigan, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Michigan.