How much do you have to steal to make it a felony?

Answer 1

The law varies from state to state and even within a state it depends upon the situation. In Illinois for example, a simple theft becomes a felony when the property taken is valued at $300 or greater. However, if the property comes from a store, that is retail theft, and the value need only be $150 to be a felony. Also, if someone has a prior theft or retail theft conviction, then it may be charged as a felony even if the value is only a penny. For more information about felony prosecutions see the links below.

Answer 2

It depends on the state in which you live or where you have committed the crime. The average is around $600 but can be much higher or lower than that.

You can see each state's dollar amount for a felony charge on the link below.

Answer 3

The theft becomes a felony when the value of the stolen goods goes over a certain limit. Each state is different. For example, Kentucky just recently raised the limit from $300 to $500.