Report a theft in New Hampshire to the local police department or sheriff first and keep the case number. Under RSA 637:11, theft becomes a felony at $1,000. Then follow the checklist for what was taken, below.
New Hampshire at a glance
| Felony theft threshold | $1,000. Theft of property or services worth more than $1,000 is a class B felony in New Hampshire, and more than $1,500 is a class A felony. |
|---|---|
| Theft statute | RSA 637:11 |
| Grading | $1,000 or less: misdemeanor. More than $1,000 up to $1,500: class B felony. More than $1,500: class A felony. Theft of a firearm, or theft while armed with a deadly weapon, is a class A felony at any value. Several aggravating facts, such as two prior theft convictions or taking property from three separate businesses within 72 hours, make a theft a class B felony regardless of value. |
| Vehicle theft | New Hampshire has no separate auto theft grade; taking a vehicle is theft graded by value under RSA 637:11. RSA 637:9 separately treats as theft the misuse of a vehicle held under a service agreement and the failure to return a rented or leased vehicle. |
| State police | New Hampshire State Police |
| Motor vehicles | New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles |
| Consumer protection | New Hampshire Department of Justice, Consumer Protection & Antitrust Bureau |
| Online police reports | The Manchester Police Department accepts online reports for nonviolent crimes that are not in progress, such as car break-ins and package theft, through a form on the department's website, according to New Hampshire Public Radio. Elsewhere in the state, online reporting varies by department. |
| Lost or stolen gun reporting | New Hampshire does not require firearm owners to report a lost or stolen gun, according to the Giffords Law Center (an advocacy group's summary). |
| 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 New Hampshire. Use the national tools in the lookup directory. |
Statute text checked on gc.nh.gov. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.
New Hampshire by the numbers
| Measure | New Hampshire | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft reports to the FTC, 2024 | 2,079 reports, 150 per 100,000 residents; ranked 35 of 50 | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Fraud and other reports to the FTC, 2024 | 14,342 reports, 1,033 per 100,000 residents; median reported fraud loss $325; total reported fraud losses $34.6M | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Firearms reported stolen from private citizens | 351 a year on average, 25.5 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 New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, the first call after a theft usually goes to the town or city police department where it happened. The New Hampshire State Police and county sheriffs cover some areas without local coverage; your town office can tell you which agency responds. Call 911 if the theft is happening now.
In Manchester, the state's largest city, New Hampshire Public Radio reported in 2022 that the police department began taking online reports for nonviolent crimes that are not in progress, such as car break-ins, vandalism and package theft, through a form on the Manchester Police Department website. Other departments set their own rules. Wherever you file, ask for the report number and a copy; creditors and insurers will want it. Our stolen property guide lists what to gather.
New Hampshire theft law and the felony threshold
Under RSA 637:11, theft is a felony once the value exceeds $1,000.
- $1,000 or less: misdemeanor.
- More than $1,000 up to $1,500: class B felony.
- More than $1,500: class A felony.
Value is not the only trigger. Stealing a firearm, or being armed with a deadly weapon during a theft, is a class A felony at any value. A theft becomes a class B felony regardless of value when, for example, the person has two prior theft convictions, takes property from three separate businesses within 72 hours, or takes goods with intent to resell them in quantities not normally bought for personal use. That last provision targets organized retail theft. The section was last amended in 2023.
Stolen vehicles and license plates in New Hampshire
A stolen car in New Hampshire is charged as ordinary theft by value under RSA 637:11, which usually means a class A felony. RSA 637:9 separately makes it theft to misuse a vehicle left for repair beyond the agreed purpose, or to abandon or refuse to return a rented or leased vehicle.
Report the theft to local police with the VIN (vehicle identification number) and plate number. For the plates, the Division of Motor Vehicles registration FAQ directs owners of missing plates to file an Application for Replacement Plates and/or Decals (RDMV 125) with the DMV in Concord, a registration office or a municipal agent office. When only one plate is missing, the DMV issues a paper plate and permit to drive until the replacement arrives. The FAQ does not address police reports, so tell the officer the plate number as well. New Hampshire offers no public stolen vehicle search; see check if stolen and our stolen vehicle guide.
Pawn shops and secondhand sales
We did not find a statewide pawn holding period that we could verify. In practice, rules for pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers vary by city or town, so ask your local police whether dealers in your area report purchases. Either way, the best tools are the ones you control: serial numbers, photographs and engraved marks, all listed in your police report.
Identity theft and fraud help in New Hampshire
The Attorney General's identity theft guide for victims recommends contacting the three credit bureaus for a fraud alert, calling the fraud department of every creditor, stopping payment on stolen checks, and filing a report with local police or the sheriff and keeping a copy. The Consumer Protection & Antitrust Bureau also publishes scam guidance and consumer forms. File at IdentityTheft.gov as well, and work through our identity theft guide and stolen wallet checklist.
There is no statewide duty to report a lost or stolen gun, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group. Because gun theft is a class A felony at any value, a prompt report with the serial number still matters; see stolen firearm.
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 New Hampshire, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in New Hampshire.
Sources
- New Hampshire General Court, RSA 637:11
- New Hampshire General Court, RSA 637:9
- New Hampshire DMV, Vehicle Registration Frequently Asked Questions
- New Hampshire Department of Justice, Identity Theft
- New Hampshire Department of Justice, Consumer Protection & Antitrust Bureau
- Giffords Law Center, Reporting Lost and Stolen Guns in New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Public Radio, Manchester police will now allow residents to report nonviolent crimes online
- New Hampshire State Police
- New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles