Wyoming Theft and Shoplifting Laws

If you're looking for a Wyoming online shoplifting class, it's important to know your Wyoming theft laws. This can help you understand more about your offense.

Please note that the Wyoming theft and shoplifting laws shown on this page are to aid you in understanding your state Wyoming theft, shoplifting and stealing laws. While we have tried to show the most up-to-date version of Wyoming theft laws, we do not guarantee its accuracy. This page is not a replacement for legal advice from an attorney. It is in your best interest that you consult with an appropriate lawyer for more information about Wyoming theft laws.

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6 3 401. Definitions.

(a) As used in this article:

(i) "Bailee" means a person other than the owner of property who rightfully possesses property;

(ii) "Deprive" means:

(A) To withhold property of another permanently or for so extended a period as to appropriate a major portion of its economic value or with intent to restore only upon payment of reward or other compensation; or

(B) To dispose of the property so as to make it unlikely that the owner will recover it.

(iii) "This article" means W.S. 6 3 401 through 6 3 411.

6 3 402. Larceny; livestock rustling; theft of fuel; penalties.

(a) A person who steals, takes and carries, leads or drives away property of another with intent to deprive the owner or lawful possessor is guilty of larceny.

(b) A bailee, a public servant as defined by W.S. 6 5 101(a)(vi) or any person entrusted with the control, care or custody of any money or other property who, with intent to steal or to deprive the owner of the property, converts the property to his own or another's use is guilty of larceny.

(c) Except as provided by subsections (e) and (f) of this section, larceny is:

(i) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the value of the property is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

(ii) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 44, § 3.

(iii) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the value of the property is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(d) Conduct denoted larceny in this section constitutes a single offense embracing the separate crimes formerly known as larceny, larceny by bailee or embezzlement.

(e) A person who steals any horse, mule, sheep, cattle, buffalo or swine is guilty of livestock rustling which is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both.

(f) A person who causes a motor vehicle to leave the premises of an establishment at which motor vehicle fuel is offered for retail sale without the person making full payment for motor fuel that was dispensed into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle or into another container is guilty of larceny. Any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this subsection shall have his driver's license suspended pursuant to W.S. 31 7 128. The court shall forward to the department of transportation a copy of the record pertaining to disposition of the arrest or citation. In addition:

(i) A first conviction under this subsection is punishable by a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both;

(ii) A second or subsequent conviction under this subsection is punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both.

6 3 403. Wrongful taking or disposing of property; venue of indictment.

(a) A person who buys, receives, conceals or disposes of property which he knows, believes or has reasonable cause to believe was obtained in violation of law is guilty of:

(i) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the value of the property is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

(ii) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 44, § 3.

(iii) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the value of the property is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(b) A person may be indicted under this section in the county where he received or possessed the property, notwithstanding the wrongful taking occurred in another county.

6 3 404. Shoplifting; altering or removing price tags and markers; penalties.

(a) A person who willfully conceals or takes possession of property offered for sale by a wholesale or retail store without the knowledge or consent of the owner and with intent to convert the property to his own use without paying the purchase price is guilty of:

(i) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the value of the property is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

(ii) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 44, § 3.

(iii) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the value of the property is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(b) A person who alters, defaces, changes or removes a price tag or marker on or about property offered for sale by a wholesale or retail store with intent to obtain the property at less than the marked or listed price is guilty of:

(i) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the difference between the marked or listed price and the amount actually paid is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

(ii) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 44, § 3.

(iii) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the difference between the marked or listed price and the amount actually paid is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

6-3-405. Reasonable detention and interrogation of persons suspected of shoplifting or altering price tag; defense in civil or criminal action.

(a) A peace officer, merchant or merchant's employee who has reasonable cause to believe a person is violating W.S. 6-3-404 may detain and interrogate the person in regard to the suspected violation in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time.

(b) In a civil or criminal action for slander, false arrest, false imprisonment, assault, battery or wrongful detention based upon a detention and interrogation pursuant to this section, it is a defense that the peace officer, merchant or merchant's employee had reasonable cause to believe the person was violating W.S. 6-3-404 and the detention and interrogation were conducted in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time.

6 3 406. Defrauding an innkeeper; penalties; definitions.

(a) A person who, with intent to defraud, procures food, drink or accommodations at a public establishment without paying in accordance with his agreement with the public establishment is guilty of:

(i) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the value of the food, drink or accommodations is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

(ii) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 44, § 3.

(iii) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the value of the food, drink or accommodations is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(b) As used in this section:

(i) "Agreement with a public establishment" means a written or verbal agreement on the price charged for, and the acceptance of, food, beverages, service or accommodations, where the price charged is printed on a menu or schedule of rates shown to or made available by the public establishment to the patron. Acceptance of food, beverages, service or accommodations for which a reasonable charge is made is an agreement with a public establishment;

(ii) "Public establishment" means an establishment selling, or offering for sale, prepared food or beverages, or leasing or renting overnight sleeping accommodations to the public generally. "Public establishment" includes restaurants, cafes, dining rooms, lunch counters, coffee shops, boardinghouses, hotels, motor hotels, motels and rooming houses, unless the rental thereof is on a month-to-month basis or for a longer period of time.

6 3 407. Obtaining property by false pretenses; penalties.

(a) A person who knowingly obtains property from another person by false pretenses with intent to defraud the person is guilty of:

(i) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the value of the property is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

(ii) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 44, § 3.

(iii) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the value of the property is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

6 3 408. Theft of services; penalties.

(a) A person who, with intent to defraud, obtains services which he knows are available only for compensation, without paying for the services is guilty of:

(i) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the value of the services is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

(ii) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 44, § 3.

(iii) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the value of the services is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(b) A person who tampers or otherwise interferes with or connects to, by any means, whether mechanical, electrical, acoustical or otherwise, any cables, wires or other devices used for distribution of services for the purposes of committing a violation of subsection (a) of this section is guilty of:

(i) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the value of the services is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

(ii) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the value of the services is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(c) A person who knowingly manufactures, distributes, sells, or offers for sale, rental or use any decoding or descrambling device or any plan or kit for such device, designed with intent to facilitate an act which constitutes a violation of subsection (a) of this section is guilty of:

(i) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the value of the services is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more; or

(ii) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the value of the services is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(d) As used in this section "services" includes, but is not limited to, electric, telephone, cable television, gas, water or sewer services.

6-3-409. Fraudulently obtaining telecommunications services deemed misdemeanor.

(a) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if, with intent to defraud or to aid and abet another to defraud any other person of the lawful charge, in whole or in part, for any telecommunications service, he obtains, attempts to obtain or aids and abets another to obtain or to attempt to obtain any telecommunications service:

(i) By charging the service to an existing telephone number or credit card number without the authority of the subscriber thereto or the legitimate holder thereof;

(ii) By charging the service to a nonexistent, false, fictitious, or counterfeit telephone number or credit card number or to a suspended, terminated, expired, cancelled, or revoked telephone number or credit card number;

(iii) By use of a code, prearranged scheme, or other similar stratagem or device whereby the person, in effect, sends or receives information;

(iv) By installing, rearranging, or tampering with any facilities or equipment, whether physically, inductively, acoustically, or electronically; or

(v) By any other trick, stratagem, impersonation, false pretense, false representation, false statement, contrivance, device, or means.

6-3-410. Value of property may be aggregated in certain cases.

The amount of property involved in violations of W.S. 6-3-402 through 6-3-404 and 6-3-406 through 6-3-408 committed pursuant to a common scheme or the same transaction, whether the property is taken from the same person or different persons, may be aggregated in determining the value of the property.

6 3 411. Unlawful use of theft detection shielding devices; penalty.

(a) A person commits unlawful use of a theft detection shielding device when he knowingly manufacturers, sells, offers for sale or distributes any laminated or coated bag or device peculiar to shielding and intended to shield merchandise from detection by an electronic or magnetic theft alarm sensor.

(b) A person commits unlawful possession of a theft detection shielding device when he knowingly possesses any laminated or coated bag or device peculiar to and designed for shielding and intended to shield merchandise from detection by an electronic or magnetic theft alarm sensor, with the intent to commit theft.

(c) A person commits unlawful possession of a theft detection device remover when he knowingly possesses any tool or device designed to allow the removal of any theft detection device from any merchandise without the permission of the merchant or person owning or holding the merchandise, with the intent to commit theft.

(d) A person commits the offense of unlawful removal of a theft detection device when he intentionally removes the device from a product prior to purchase without the permission of the merchant or person owning or holding the merchandise.

(e) A person who commits any of the offenses specified under subsections (a) through (d) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.

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