What to do when something is stolen in Mississippi

Mississippi at a glance

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

Mississippi 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 Mississippi

In Mississippi, how fast you report can decide whether stolen goods in a pawnshop can be recovered, because the state's pawn law ties confiscation to a promptly filed police report. Report to the city police department where the theft happened, or to the county sheriff outside city limits. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety, which includes the Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Investigation, handles highway incidents and assists local agencies. Online reporting varies by department.

• Write down serial numbers and gather photos and receipts.
• Ask for the case number and make sure the items are entered in NCIC (the FBI's National Crime Information Center).
• Keep a copy for insurers and credit bureaus.

Our stolen property guide walks through the sequence.

Mississippi theft law and the felony threshold

Mississippi splits theft into petit and grand larceny. Grand larceny, under Miss. Code § 97-17-41, begins at $1,000 and is punished in the state penitentiary.

• Under $1,000: petit larceny (§ 97-17-43), up to six months in county jail or a $1,000 fine. Jail applies only when the court finds the offender cannot be safely supervised in the community or poses a significant risk; otherwise the court suspends jail and imposes probation, a fine, or both.
• $1,000 to under $5,000: up to 5 years or a $10,000 fine.
• $5,000 to under $25,000: up to 10 years.
• $25,000 or more: up to 20 years.

Values taken from a single victim are added together to set the grade, so a series of small thefts can become a felony. A third or later petit larceny involving $500 or more can carry up to three years. Thefts from a church, synagogue, temple or other place of worship carry higher maximums.

Stolen vehicles and license plates in Mississippi

Mississippi charges car theft under its own section, § 97-17-42, which makes taking possession of and driving away a motor vehicle without the owner's consent a felony punishable by up to 15 years and a fine of up to $10,000. A second or later offense carries 5 to 20 years, and taking a vehicle held by a commercial business carries 10 to 30 years. The court can also order restitution for damage and repairs.

Report the theft by phone or in person with the VIN (vehicle identification number) and plate number so it is entered in NCIC, then contact your insurer. Tags and titles in Mississippi are handled by the Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Services through county tax collectors; check its current instructions for replacing a stolen plate. Our stolen vehicle checklist covers the rest.

Pawn shops and secondhand sales

Mississippi's Pawnshop Act sets out how police can recover stolen goods from a pawnshop. Under § 75-67-329, officers may place a one-time seven-day hold on pledged or purchased goods. Goods may be confiscated only when a police report was filed promptly, a warrant has been sworn out against the person who pawned or sold them, and a theft or NCIC report identifies the items and requests restitution. If no rightful owner is found, the goods go back to the pawnbroker.

The practical lesson: report quickly, list serial numbers, and ask the officer to enter the items in NCIC. Before buying used goods, see our check-if-stolen guide.

Identity theft and fraud help in Mississippi

If a theft exposed your identity, file at IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan, make a police report, and place a fraud alert or credit freeze; check your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division handles scams and business complaints. See our identity theft guide and stolen wallet checklist.

Mississippi has no statewide duty to report a lost or stolen gun, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group. A report still protects you if the gun is misused; 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 Mississippi, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Mississippi.