Report a theft in New Mexico to the local police department or sheriff first and keep the case number. Under NMSA 1978, § 30-16-1, theft becomes a felony at $500. Then follow the checklist for what was taken, below.
New Mexico at a glance
| Felony theft threshold | $500. Larceny of property worth more than $500 is a fourth degree felony in New Mexico. |
|---|---|
| Theft statute | NMSA 1978, § 30-16-1 |
| Grading | $250 or less: petty misdemeanor. Over $250 up to $500: misdemeanor. Over $500 up to $2,500: fourth degree felony. Over $2,500 up to $20,000: third degree felony. Over $20,000: second degree felony. Livestock theft is a third degree felony at any value, and theft of a firearm worth less than $2,500 is a fourth degree felony. |
| Vehicle theft | New Mexico treats it as a separate offense. Unlawful taking of a vehicle or motor vehicle (NMSA § 30-16D-1) is a fourth degree felony for a first offense, a third degree felony for a second and a second degree felony for a third or later offense, regardless of value. |
| State police | New Mexico Department of Public Safety (New Mexico State Police) |
| Motor vehicles | New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division |
| Consumer protection | New Mexico Department of Justice (Attorney General) |
| Online police reports | The Albuquerque Police Department accepts online reports for crimes that happened in Albuquerque in categories including theft or larceny, shoplifting, auto and residential burglary, fraud, identity theft and lost property; stolen license plates must be reported by phone. Other New Mexico departments set their own rules. |
| Lost or stolen gun reporting | New Mexico 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 Mexico. 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 Mexico by the numbers
| Measure | New Mexico | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft reports to the FTC, 2024 | 3,171 reports, 150 per 100,000 residents; ranked 34 of 50 | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Fraud and other reports to the FTC, 2024 | 20,966 reports, 991 per 100,000 residents; median reported fraud loss $500; total reported fraud losses $56.6M | FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024 |
| Firearms reported stolen from private citizens | 2,187 a year on average, 103.3 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 Mexico
In New Mexico's largest city, much of a theft report can be filed without a phone call. The Albuquerque Police Department's online report page accepts reports for crimes that happened inside the city in these categories, among others:
- Theft or larceny and shoplifting.
- Auto burglary and residential burglary.
- Fraud and identity theft.
- Lost property and vandalism.
Two exceptions matter. Stolen license plates cannot be reported online; APD directs residents to call 505-242-COPS. Hit-and-run and other crashes also require a call. Outside Albuquerque, report to the city police or county sheriff, or to the New Mexico State Police, part of the Department of Public Safety. Call 911 for anything in progress. Our stolen property guide lists what to have ready.
New Mexico theft law and the felony threshold
New Mexico calls the core offense larceny. Under NMSA § 30-16-1, larceny becomes a felony when the value exceeds $500.
- $250 or less: petty misdemeanor.
- Over $250 up to $500: misdemeanor.
- Over $500 up to $2,500: fourth degree felony.
- Over $2,500 up to $20,000: third degree felony.
- Over $20,000: second degree felony.
Some property is graded by type. Livestock theft is a third degree felony at any value, and theft of a firearm worth less than $2,500 is a fourth degree felony. A 2026 bill, House Bill 197, proposed raising firearm larceny to a third degree felony; check the current statute before relying on either grade.
Stolen vehicles and license plates in New Mexico
New Mexico does not grade car theft by value. Unlawful taking of a vehicle or motor vehicle, NMSA § 30-16D-1, is a fourth degree felony for a first offense, a third degree felony for a second and a second degree felony for a third or later offense. Related sections in the same article cover embezzling a vehicle you were entrusted with and obtaining a vehicle by fraud. A 2025 bill that would have counted prior convictions across those sections together, House Bill 50, did not become law.
Report a stolen vehicle to police with the VIN (vehicle identification number) and plate number. In Albuquerque, stolen plates must be reported by phone rather than online. For replacement plates and registration, check the current instructions of the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division. The state runs no public stolen vehicle search; use the national tools on check if stolen and see the stolen vehicle guide.
Pawn shops and secondhand sales
We did not verify a statewide pawn holding period or reporting rule for New Mexico, so treat it as varying by city or county. Give police serial numbers, photographs and any engraved marks; those details are what allow a dealer's purchase record to be matched to your report.
Identity theft and fraud help in New Mexico
Albuquerque residents can report identity theft and fraud through the police department's online system, which gives you the police report that creditors often ask for. Statewide, consumer fraud and scam complaints go to the New Mexico Department of Justice, the Attorney General's office. File at IdentityTheft.gov for a federal recovery plan, then follow our identity theft guide and stolen wallet checklist.
New Mexico does not require owners to report a lost or stolen firearm, according to the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy group. A report with the serial number still protects the owner if the gun is later recovered or misused; 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 Mexico, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in New Mexico.
Sources
- New Mexico Legislature, House Bill 197 (2026), quoting NMSA 30-16-1
- New Mexico Legislature, House Bill 50 (2025), quoting NMSA 30-16D-1
- BillTrack50, New Mexico HB 50 (2025) status
- Justia, NMSA 30-16-1
- Albuquerque Police Department, File a Police Report Online
- Giffords Law Center, Reporting Lost and Stolen Guns in New Mexico
- New Mexico Department of Public Safety
- New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division
- New Mexico Department of Justice