Report a theft in New Jersey to the local police department or sheriff first and keep the case number. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2, theft becomes a felony at $200 (New Jersey grades by degree; this is the line for an indictable crime). Then follow the checklist for what was taken, below.
New Jersey at a glance
| Felony theft threshold | $200. New Jersey does not use the word felony; theft of $200 or more is an indictable crime of the fourth degree, and theft of more than $500 is a crime of the third degree. |
|---|---|
| Theft statute | N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2 |
| Grading | Less than $200: disorderly persons offense. $200 to $500: crime of the fourth degree. More than $500 but less than $75,000: crime of the third degree. $75,000 or more: crime of the second degree (a breach of fiduciary obligation reaches second degree at $50,000). |
| Vehicle theft | Since P.L.2023, c.101 (approved July 7, 2023), motor vehicle theft is a separate offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.1: a crime of the third degree, or the second degree if the vehicle is worth $75,000 or more or more than one vehicle is involved. The same law requires an extended term, on the prosecutor's request, for persistent offenders with two or more prior qualifying convictions such as motor vehicle theft. |
| State police | New Jersey State Police |
| Motor vehicles | New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission |
| Consumer protection | New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs |
| Online police reports | Online reporting in New Jersey varies by municipal police department; check your local department's website before you file. |
| Lost or stolen gun reporting | New Jersey requires owners to report the loss or theft of any firearm to local police where it occurred, or to the State Police superintendent if there is no local force, within 36 hours of discovery, according to the Giffords Law Center (an advocacy group's summary). |
| Pawn and secondhand dealers | New Jersey pawnbrokers must deliver a daily transcript of the previous business day's pledges and redemptions, with item descriptions, to the municipal police chief before 11 a.m. each day except Sunday (N.J.S.A. 45:22-34). |
| Official stolen property lookups | No public state-run lookup was found for New Jersey. Use the national tools in the lookup directory. |
Statute text checked on law.justia.com. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.
New Jersey by the numbers
| Measure | New Jersey | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft reports to the FTC, 2024 | 29,037 reports, 313 per 100,000 residents; ranked 11 of 50 | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Fraud and other reports to the FTC, 2024 | 139,551 reports, 1,506 per 100,000 residents; median reported fraud loss $500; total reported fraud losses $314.4M | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Firearms reported stolen from private citizens | 586 a year on average, 6.3 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 Jersey
In New Jersey, report a theft to the municipal police department in the town where it happened. Where a town has no local force, the New Jersey State Police takes the report. Call 911 for a theft in progress.
Whether you can file online depends on the town. Some municipal departments accept online reports for minor thefts and others do not, so check your local department's website first. Ask for a copy of the report in every case. The Motor Vehicle Commission asks for one when plates are stolen, and creditors and insurers will ask for it too. Our stolen property guide explains what to gather.
New Jersey theft law and the felony threshold
New Jersey's criminal code grades offenses by degree instead of using the terms felony and misdemeanor. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2, theft becomes an indictable crime at $200.
- Less than $200: disorderly persons offense.
- $200 to $500: crime of the fourth degree.
- More than $500, less than $75,000: crime of the third degree.
- $75,000 or more: crime of the second degree.
A breach of fiduciary duty, such as an agent or trustee taking funds, reaches the second degree at $50,000. Amounts taken in one scheme or course of conduct may be combined to set the grade, and the 2023 amendments extended that aggregation rule to motor vehicle thefts.
Stolen vehicles and license plates in New Jersey
New Jersey rewrote its auto theft law in 2023. P.L.2023, c.101, approved July 7, 2023, created a separate motor vehicle theft offense: a crime of the third degree, or the second degree when the vehicle is worth $75,000 or more or more than one vehicle is taken. It also requires an extended prison term, at the prosecutor's request, for persistent offenders with two or more prior qualifying convictions.
The Motor Vehicle Commission's plates page sets out the steps for stolen plates:
- File a police report in the municipality where the plates were taken and keep a copy.
- Visit a motor vehicle agency with the report, your current registration and identification.
- Complete a Vehicle Registration/Plate Status form (BA-1, available only at agencies) to mark the plates lost or stolen, and keep the verification as proof you notified the MVC.
- Receive replacement plates with the next available number.
New Jersey has no public stolen vehicle search; see check if stolen and our stolen vehicle guide.
Pawn shops and secondhand sales
State law puts pawnbrokers on a daily reporting schedule. Under N.J.S.A. 45:22-34, each pawnbroker must give the local police chief, before 11 a.m. every day except Sunday, a transcript of the previous business day's pledges and redemptions, listing each item, the loan amount and a description of the person who pledged it. Many towns add their own ordinances for secondhand dealers, so ask your local police how dealers in your town report.
Identity theft and fraud help in New Jersey
Consumer fraud complaints go to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. For identity theft, file a police report locally, then file at IdentityTheft.gov and place fraud alerts or credit freezes. Our identity theft guide and stolen wallet checklist give the order of steps.
New Jersey is one of the states with a firm deadline for guns: owners must report a lost or stolen firearm within 36 hours of discovering the loss, to local police or, where there is no local force, the State Police, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group. 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 Jersey, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in New Jersey.