What to do when something is stolen in Vermont

Vermont at a glance

Statute text checked on legislature.vermont.gov. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.

Vermont 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 Vermont

Much of rural Vermont is covered by the Vermont State Police, which works out of regional barracks, so in many towns the state police are the agency that takes a theft report. In towns and cities with their own department, report to that department. The Vermont State Police homepage lists a tip submission page and a tip line for suspicious activity but does not describe an online crime report system.

Burlington offers online incident reporting for fraud, identity theft, forgery, theft of services, theft of rental property and vandalism within city limits. The department asks residents to report larceny (from a building, vehicle or person) and retail theft by phone, and it states that not every online report is investigated. Ask for a case number whatever route you use. Our stolen property guide covers what to have ready.

Vermont theft law and the felony threshold

Vermont still uses the traditional terms grand larceny and petit larceny. The line between them is $900.

• Petit larceny (13 V.S.A. § 2502): property worth $900 or less, punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
• Grand larceny (13 V.S.A. § 2501): property worth more than $900, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

Note the wording: grand larceny applies when value exceeds $900, so property worth exactly $900 falls in the petit larceny tier. Value is the key fact in a Vermont theft case, which is why receipts, appraisals and photos matter. Firearm owners should also read our stolen firearm guide.

Stolen vehicles and license plates in Vermont

Vermont charges most car thefts under its own statute, operation without consent of the owner, 23 V.S.A. § 1094. Knowingly taking or driving someone else's vehicle without consent carries up to two years in prison. Since Act 129 took effect on July 1, 2024, a person who should have known they lacked consent faces a fine of up to $500. The aggravated form carries up to five years and applies when, among other factors, the vehicle is not recovered within 24 hours, suffers $500 or more in damage, has its VIN (vehicle identification number) altered or removed, is used in a felony, or carries unauthorized plates. The statute states that it does not limit a grand larceny prosecution. Act 129 also created a misdemeanor for entering someone else's vehicle without authority.

Report a stolen vehicle or plate by phone or in person, with the plate number and VIN. The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles handles registrations and replacement plates; check its registration pages or call for its current replacement steps. Vermont has no public stolen vehicle search, so use the national tools in our check if stolen guide and the stolen vehicles checklist.

Pawn shops and secondhand sales

We did not find a statewide Vermont holding period for pawned or secondhand goods. The Vermont State Police lists precious metal dealers among the businesses it licenses, but local rules for other dealers vary by town. If you think your property has reached a shop or an online marketplace, give the reporting officer serial numbers and photos rather than confronting a seller. Our stolen property guide explains how to document items.

Identity theft and fraud help in Vermont

The Vermont Attorney General runs the Consumer Assistance Program with the University of Vermont. It offers consumer education, complaint mediation and scam recovery resources. For identity theft, build a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov and file a police report; Burlington residents can file identity theft reports online. Freeze your credit and check your files at AnnualCreditReport.com. Our identity theft guide and stolen wallet checklist set out the steps in order.

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