What to do when something is stolen in Tennessee

Tennessee at a glance

Statute text checked on law.justia.com. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.

Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Tennessee makes theft of any firearm a felony with a minimum of 180 days of confinement, so if a gun was taken, say so first when you call police. For any theft, report to the city police or county sheriff where it happened; the Tennessee Highway Patrol handles state highways.

The Metro Nashville Police Department's online reporting program takes package theft, bicycle theft (not motorized bikes or scooters), theft from a yard or detached garage, retail theft, identity theft and vandalism inside Nashville-Davidson County. Filers must be 18 or older, there can be no known suspect, and reports involving a firearm, a domestic relationship or violence are not accepted; lost firearms cannot be reported online. Motor vehicles and items taken from them go to an officer. Other departments set their own rules. Our stolen property guide lists what to gather and our package theft guide covers porch theft.

Tennessee theft law and the felony threshold

Tennessee uses one theft statute for most property, Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-105, and theft becomes a felony at more than $1,000.

• $1,000 or less (not a firearm): Class A misdemeanor.
• More than $1,000 to under $2,500, or any firearm under $2,500: Class E felony.
• $2,500 to under $10,000: Class D felony.
• $10,000 to under $60,000: Class C felony.
• $60,000 to under $250,000: Class B felony.
• $250,000 or more: Class A felony.

The firearm rule is the distinctive part. Any stolen gun is at least a felony, and the statute adds a minimum of 180 days of confinement on top of other penalties. Read our stolen firearm guide for the serial number and ATF steps.

Stolen vehicles and license plates in Tennessee

Tennessee charges a stolen vehicle under the general theft statute, so the grade follows the vehicle's value. Taking someone's car, motorcycle, boat, bicycle or other vehicle without consent but without intent to keep it is joyriding, a Class A misdemeanor under § 39-14-106. Report a stolen vehicle to police directly; Nashville's online system does not accept vehicles.

Plates and registration are issued through county clerks under the Tennessee Department of Revenue. For a lost or stolen plate, the Department of Revenue's help center says to complete the Application for Duplicate License Plate/Replacement Plate or Decal and submit it to the county clerk where you live, with a police report as part of the application. File that report first. Tennessee has no public stolen vehicle search; use the national tools in our check-if-stolen guide and the steps in our stolen vehicle guide.

Pawn shops and secondhand sales

The Tennessee Pawnbrokers Act gives police a fast paper trail. Under § 45-6-209, each pawn transaction is recorded with a description of the goods and the pledgor's identification, and those records go to the appropriate law enforcement agency within 48 hours following the day of the transaction. The county sheriff and municipal police chief may inspect the records every business day except Sunday, and a pawn's maturity date must be at least 30 days out. Give the officer on your case serial numbers and photos so a match can be found.

Identity theft and fraud help in Tennessee

File with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and make a police report; Nashville accepts identity theft reports online. Consumer complaints in Tennessee go to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, which absorbed the former Division of Consumer Affairs on September 30, 2019 and serves as the state's clearinghouse for complaints about unfair or deceptive practices. Older materials may still name the Department of Commerce and Insurance. Our identity theft guide and stolen wallet guide list the freezes to place first.

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