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Pickpocketing at a Street Cafe

§ 155.30 Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree

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A person is guilty of grand larceny in the fourth degree when he steals property and when:

  1. The value of the property exceeds one thousand dollars; or
  2. The property consists of a public record, writing or instrument kept, filed or deposited according to law with or in the keeping of any public office or public servant; or
  3. The property consists of secret scientific material; or
  4. The property consists of a credit card or debit card; or
  5. The property, regardless of its nature and value, is taken from the person of another; or
  6. The property, regardless of its nature and value, is obtained by extortion; or
  7. The property consists of one or more firearms, rifles or shotguns, as such terms are defined in section 265.00 of this chapter; or
  8. The value of the property exceeds one hundred dollars and the property consists of a motor vehicle, as defined in section one hundred twenty-five of the vehicle and traffic law, other than a motorcycle, as defined in section one hundred twenty-three of such law; or
  9. The property consists of a scroll, religious vestment, a vessel, an item comprising a display of religious symbols which forms a representative expression of faith, or other miscellaneous item of property which: (a) has a value of at least one hundred dollars; and (b) is kept for or used in connection with religious worship in any building, structure or upon the curtilage of such building or structure used as a place of religious worship by a religious corporation, as incorporated under the religious corporations law or the education law.
  10. The property consists of an access device which the person intends to use unlawfully to obtain telephone service.
  11. The property consists of anhydrous ammonia or liquified ammonia gas and the actor intends to use, or knows another person intends to use, such anhydrous ammonia or liquified ammonia gas to manufacture methamphetamine. Grand larceny in the fourth degree is a class E felony.

NY PEN Law 155.30 Grand Larceny in the fourth degree. (Laws of New York (2015 Edition))

Grand Larceny 4th Degree P.L. 155.30 Penalties

The lowest degree of grand larceny is Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (N.Y.S. Penal Law 155.30), which is classified as a Class E felony.  The most common way to be charged with this offense is to steal property that is valued more than $1,000.  New York has one of the higher thresholds in the United States for a theft becoming a felony based on value.  Other states consider a theft a felony for values as low as $400.  You can also be charged with grand larceny if you came to possess the property, regardless of its nature or value, through extortion or if you physically took it from another person.  Finally, you can also be charged with 4th degree grand larceny if the nature of the property taken is listed in the statute.  A few examples include credit/debit cards, public records, and secret scientific materials.  A full comprehensive list can be found in the statute.  If convicted of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, you would face up to four years in upstate prison.

In addition to the potential for imprisonment that accompanies a conviction of grand larceny in the fourth degree, there are very serious collateral consequences as well.  Criminal background checks have become routine among employers when considering hiring decisions.  Theft convictions make receiving job offers extremely difficult and sometimes impossible in certain employment fields.  Grand larceny in the fourth degree is also considered a crime of moral turpitude and can have serious immigration consequences for those that are not United States citizens, including possible deportation.