What to do when something is stolen in Nevada

Nevada at a glance

Statute text checked on leg.state.nv.us. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.

Nevada 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 Nevada

Nevada's population is concentrated in two metro areas, and so are its theft reports. In Clark County, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is the largest agency; the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that it accepts online reports for some lower-level crimes, including items stolen from a vehicle. In Reno, Sparks and rural counties, report to the city police or the county sheriff. The Nevada Highway Patrol handles highway incidents.

Call 911 for a theft in progress. For anything else, file promptly, keep the report number, and list serial numbers and photographs. Our stolen property guide explains what to collect first.

Nevada theft law and the felony threshold

Under NRS 205.0835, theft becomes a felony at $1,200. The 2019 legislature set the current value bands.

• Less than $1,200: misdemeanor.
• $1,200 to less than $5,000: category D felony.
• $5,000 to less than $25,000: category C felony.
• $25,000 to less than $100,000: category B felony, 1 to 10 years.
• $100,000 or more: category B felony, 1 to 20 years.

Grand larceny under NRS 205.222 follows the same felony bands, and the court must order restitution for both offenses. Some property is graded by type rather than value. Grand larceny of a firearm (NRS 205.226) is a category B felony on its own, so a stolen gun of modest value is still a serious charge. Organized retail theft has its own section, NRS 205.08345, which the Attorney General may investigate and prosecute.

Stolen vehicles and license plates in Nevada

Nevada does not grade car theft by value. Grand larceny of a motor vehicle (NRS 205.228) is a category C felony for a first offense and a category B felony for a second offense within five years.

The Nevada DMV's lost and stolen plates page sets out two paths:

• Whole vehicle stolen: file a police report, complete the Lost, Stolen or Mutilated License Plate Affidavit (VP 202), and bring both to a DMV office so the registration is canceled and the plates are marked stolen.
• Plates only stolen: apply in person with the VP 202 affidavit, any remaining plate and a police report if you have one. You will receive a new number; the DMV will not duplicate a stolen plate number.

The DMV says a police report is not required for plates alone but strongly recommends one for your protection. Nevada runs no public stolen vehicle search, so see check if stolen and the stolen vehicle guide.

Pawn shops and secondhand sales

NRS Chapter 646 gives Nevada one of the longer pawn holding periods: pledged property must be held for redemption for at least 90 days (NRS 646.050). A pawnbroker who has good cause to believe an item is lost or stolen must report it immediately to the sheriff or police chief (NRS 646.060), and a peace officer investigating a crime may place a written hold on pledged property (NRS 646.047). Give police serial numbers and photos so a pawn record can be matched to your report.

Identity theft and fraud help in Nevada

Nevada offers a state Identity Theft Program card, sometimes called the identity theft passport. According to the Attorney General's instructions, a victim files a local police report, requests the program application, and mails it to the Attorney General's identity theft unit in Carson City or Las Vegas; the office then says whether the applicant qualifies. Fraud complaints go to the Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Also file at IdentityTheft.gov and follow our identity theft guide. Nevada does not require owners to report lost or stolen guns, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group; see stolen firearm for why reporting still helps.

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 Nevada, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Nevada.