What to do when something is stolen in Texas

Texas at a glance

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

Texas 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 Texas

Texas runs a dedicated, insurer-funded program against vehicle crime, the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) within the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, but every theft report still starts with local police. Report to the city police department, the county sheriff, or the Texas Department of Public Safety on state highways, and keep the case number for your insurer.

The Houston Police Department's online system accepts theft, burglary of a home, building or vehicle, lost property, criminal mischief, credit card abuse, misuse of identifying information and online impersonation, provided the total loss is $50,000 or less and no suspect is on scene. Motor vehicles, firearms and stolen license plates cannot be reported online, and theft involving force or a struggle needs an officer. Other Texas departments set their own rules. Our stolen property guide lists what to gather first.

Texas theft law and the felony threshold

Texas grades theft by value under Penal Code § 31.03(e). The first felony tier, a state jail felony, begins at $2,500.

• Under $100: Class C misdemeanor.
• $100 to under $750: Class B misdemeanor.
• $750 to under $2,500: Class A misdemeanor.
• $2,500 to under $30,000: state jail felony.
• $30,000 to under $150,000: third-degree felony.
• $150,000 to under $300,000: second-degree felony.
• $300,000 or more: first-degree felony.

A firearm is a state jail felony whatever its value, so a stolen handgun is never a misdemeanor theft. Texas does not require owners to report a lost or stolen gun, but a prompt report with the serial number is how a recovered firearm finds its way back; see our stolen firearm guide.

Stolen vehicles and license plates in Texas

A stolen car is charged as theft by value, and operating someone else's vehicle, boat or airplane without consent is unauthorized use of a vehicle under Penal Code § 31.07, a state jail felony. Call police rather than filing online; Houston sends stolen vehicles and stolen plates to an officer.

The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority began as a 1993 auto theft prevention program, joined the newly created TxDMV in 2009 and took its current name on September 1, 2019. It is funded by a fee insurers pay on each insured vehicle and awards grants to local auto theft and burglary task forces, which work with the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Its advice to victims is to call police immediately with the VIN (vehicle identification number), report the theft to your insurer even if the loss may not be covered, and notify your lender if the vehicle is financed or leased.

For stolen plates, TxDMV issues replacements through the county tax assessor-collector using Form VTR-60, the Application for Replacement License Plate(s) and/or Vehicle Registration Sticker; check the county office for the current fee and file a police report first. Texas has no public stolen vehicle search; use the national tools in our check-if-stolen guide and our stolen vehicle guide.

Pawn shops and secondhand sales

Texas regulates pawnshops at the state level, but Confirmed Stolen could not open the current statute text to confirm a holding period or police reporting rule, and many large Texas cities add their own requirements for pawnshops and secondhand dealers. If you think your property was pawned, give the item description, serial number and photos to the officer handling your case, who can check local pawn records and request a hold.

Identity theft and fraud help in Texas

File with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, then make a police report; Houston accepts misuse of identifying information and credit card abuse reports online. The Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division accepts consumer complaints and publishes scam alerts. It does not take the place of a police report, so file both. Our identity theft guide and stolen wallet guide list the credit freezes and account changes to make 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 Texas, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Texas.