Report a theft in Montana to the local police department or sheriff first and keep the case number. Under Montana Code Annotated § 45-6-301, theft becomes a felony at $1,500. Then follow the checklist for what was taken, below.
Montana at a glance
| Felony theft threshold | $1,500. Theft of property worth more than $1,500 can be punished by up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $50,000, the felony grade in Montana. |
|---|---|
| Theft statute | Montana Code Annotated § 45-6-301 |
| Grading | $1,500 or less: first or second offense up to 6 months in county jail or a fine of up to $1,500; a third or later offense carries a mandatory $1,500 fine and 30 days to 6 months in jail. More than $1,500: up to 10 years in state prison or a fine of up to $50,000. Theft of a light vehicle, of a commonly domesticated hoofed animal, or of anhydrous ammonia for drug manufacturing: up to 10 years regardless of value. Embezzlement over $10,000: 1 to 10 years. Amounts from a common scheme may be added together. |
| Vehicle theft | Theft of a light vehicle is punishable by up to 10 years in state prison or a $50,000 fine regardless of value under § 45-6-301(7)(d); operating another person's vehicle without consent is the lesser offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle under § 45-6-308, up to 6 months in jail or a $500 fine. |
| State police | Montana Highway Patrol (Montana Department of Justice) |
| Motor vehicles | Montana Motor Vehicle Division |
| Consumer protection | Montana Department of Justice, Office of Consumer Protection |
| Online police reports | Online reporting for non-emergency theft varies by department in Montana; check the website of the city police department or county sheriff where the theft happened. |
| Lost or stolen gun reporting | Montana 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 Montana among the states with such a law. |
| 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 Montana. Use the national tools in the lookup directory. |
Statute text checked on mca.legmt.gov. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.
Montana by the numbers
| Measure | Montana | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft reports to the FTC, 2024 | 1,447 reports, 131 per 100,000 residents; ranked 39 of 50 | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Fraud and other reports to the FTC, 2024 | 9,651 reports, 873 per 100,000 residents; median reported fraud loss $459; total reported fraud losses $22.5M | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Firearms reported stolen from private citizens | 962 a year on average, 88.7 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 Montana
Montana's theft statute reflects the state's economy: alongside a dollar threshold, it singles out livestock, light vehicles and anhydrous ammonia for felony-level penalties regardless of value. In a state where many communities are served by a county sheriff rather than a city department, the first call usually goes to the sheriff's office or the local police department where the theft happened. The Montana Highway Patrol, part of the state Department of Justice, handles highway incidents. Online reporting for minor theft varies by department.
- Record serial numbers, VINs, brands or tags for livestock, and photos.
- Ask for the case number and keep a copy for insurers.
Our stolen property guide lists the full sequence.
Montana theft law and the felony threshold
Theft is defined in MCA § 45-6-301. The penalty jumps from county jail to state prison when the property is worth more than $1,500.
- $1,500 or less: a first or second offense carries up to 6 months in county jail or a fine of up to $1,500. A third or later offense carries a mandatory $1,500 fine and 30 days to 6 months in jail.
- More than $1,500: up to 10 years in state prison or a fine of up to $50,000. The offender's property is also subject to criminal forfeiture.
- Embezzlement over $10,000: 1 to 10 years in state prison.
Several categories reach the 10-year level at any value: a light vehicle, a commonly domesticated hoofed animal (where the minimum fine is $5,000), and anhydrous ammonia taken to make dangerous drugs. Amounts taken in a common scheme or the same transaction may be added together, so repeated small thefts can cross the $1,500 line. The section was most recently amended in 2025.
Stolen vehicles and license plates in Montana
Montana's code draws a sharp line between stealing a vehicle and borrowing one without permission. Theft of a light vehicle, as defined in the motor vehicle code, carries up to 10 years in state prison or a $50,000 fine under § 45-6-301(7)(d), regardless of the vehicle's value. Knowingly operating another person's automobile, motorcycle, motorboat, airplane or other motor-propelled vehicle without consent is unauthorized use of a motor vehicle under § 45-6-308, punishable by up to 6 months in county jail or a $500 fine.
Report a stolen vehicle to the sheriff or police with the VIN (vehicle identification number) and plate number so it enters the national crime database, then notify your insurer and the Motor Vehicle Division, and 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 statewide pawnshop holding period for Montana, and rules for pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers can vary by city or county. If you spot your property in a shop or listing, pass the details to the investigating agency rather than confronting the seller, and supply serial numbers and photos. Before buying used tools, firearms or equipment, read our check-if-stolen guide.
Identity theft and fraud help in Montana
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. Consumer scams and business complaints go to the Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Protection. Our identity theft guide and stolen wallet checklist walk through each step.
Montana 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 firearm is later 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 Montana, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Montana.