Report a theft in Missouri to the local police department or sheriff first and keep the case number. Under Missouri Revised Statutes § 570.030, theft becomes a felony at $750. Then follow the checklist for what was taken, below.
Missouri at a glance
| Felony theft threshold | $750. Stealing property or services worth $750 or more is a class D felony in Missouri, punishable by up to seven years. |
|---|---|
| Theft statute | Missouri Revised Statutes § 570.030 |
| Grading | Under $150 with no prior stealing-related findings of guilt (and not a listed property type): class D misdemeanor, fine of up to $500. Other thefts under $750: class A misdemeanor. $750 or more: class D felony (up to 7 years). $25,000 or more: class C felony (3 to 10 years). Certain property is a felony at any value, including motor vehicles, firearms, credit or debit devices and property taken from the victim's person (class D), and catalytic converters and mail or packages taken from a delivery (class E). Livestock above set values, anhydrous ammonia and some repeat vehicle thefts are class B felonies. |
| Vehicle theft | Stealing any motor vehicle, watercraft or aircraft is a class D felony regardless of value under § 570.030.5, and it becomes a class B felony (5 to 15 years) when the person has two prior stealing-related findings of guilt within ten years. |
| State police | Missouri State Highway Patrol |
| Motor vehicles | Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration |
| Consumer protection | Missouri Attorney General, Consumer Protection |
| Online police reports | Online reporting for non-emergency theft varies by department in Missouri; check the website of the city police department or county sheriff where the theft happened. |
| Lost or stolen gun reporting | Missouri has no statewide requirement to report a lost or stolen firearm, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group, whose summary does not list Missouri; stealing any firearm is nonetheless a class D felony regardless of value. |
| 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 Missouri. Use the national tools in the lookup directory. |
Statute text checked on revisor.mo.gov. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.
Missouri by the numbers
| Measure | Missouri | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft reports to the FTC, 2024 | 11,535 reports, 187 per 100,000 residents; ranked 28 of 50 | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Fraud and other reports to the FTC, 2024 | 72,120 reports, 1,169 per 100,000 residents; median reported fraud loss $400; total reported fraud losses $139.3M | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Firearms reported stolen from private citizens | 6,845 a year on average, 111.2 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 Missouri
Missouri sets one of the lower felony lines in the country at $750, and it names specific kinds of property, from cars to catalytic converters to packages left on a porch, that are felonies at any value. That makes an accurate description of what was taken as important as the dollar figure. Report to the city police department or county sheriff where the theft happened; the Missouri State Highway Patrol handles incidents in its jurisdiction and on state highways. Online reporting for minor theft varies by department.
- Record serial numbers, VINs and photos.
- Describe the item type precisely, for example a catalytic converter or a mailed package.
- Keep the case number for insurers and credit bureaus.
Our stolen property guide and package theft guide list the steps.
Missouri theft law and the felony threshold
Missouri calls theft stealing, defined in RSMo § 570.030 (the current version took effect August 28, 2025). Stealing becomes a felony at $750.
- Under $150, first offense, ordinary property: class D misdemeanor, a fine of up to $500.
- Other thefts under $750: class A misdemeanor.
- $750 or more: class D felony, up to seven years.
- $25,000 or more: class C felony, three to ten years.
The property list matters as much as value. A class D felony applies at any value to motor vehicles, watercraft and aircraft, firearms, credit and debit devices, and property taken from the victim's person. A class E felony applies to catalytic converters, animals, and letters or packages delivered by a carrier and not yet received, and to a person with three prior stealing-related findings of guilt within ten years. Livestock above set values and anhydrous ammonia are class B felonies.
Stolen vehicles and license plates in Missouri
Missouri treats vehicle theft as a felony from the first dollar. Under § 570.030, stealing any motor vehicle, watercraft or aircraft is a class D felony regardless of value, and it rises to a class B felony, five to fifteen years, when the person has two prior stealing-related findings of guilt on separate occasions within ten years. Catalytic converter theft is separately listed as a class E felony.
Report a stolen vehicle by phone or in person with the VIN (vehicle identification number) and plate number so it enters the national crime database, then notify your insurer. Titles and plates are handled by the Missouri Department of Revenue through license offices; follow its current instructions for replacing a stolen plate. Our stolen vehicle checklist covers the rest.
Pawn shops and secondhand sales
We did not verify a single statewide holding period for Missouri pawnshops and secondhand dealers, and local rules can differ by city or county. If you find your property in a shop or listing, give the details to the investigating officer instead of approaching the seller, and supply serial numbers and photos so the item can be matched. Before buying used goods, read our check-if-stolen guide.
Identity theft and fraud help in Missouri
Stealing a credit or debit device is a felony in Missouri, but the bigger harm often comes afterward. 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 takes complaints about scams and businesses. See our identity theft guide and stolen wallet checklist.
Missouri has no statewide duty to report a lost or stolen gun, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group, though stealing one is a felony at any value. Report it to protect yourself; 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 Missouri, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Missouri.