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NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72 (2026)

Larceny of property; receiving stolen goods or possessing stolen goods

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) Larceny of goods of the value of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) is a Class H felony. The receiving or possessing of stolen goods of the value of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) while knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the goods are stolen is a Class H felony. Larceny as provided in subsection (b) of this section is a Class H felony. Receiving or possession of stolen goods as provided in subsection (c) of this section is a Class H felony. Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, larceny of property, or the receiving or possession of stolen goods knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe them to be stolen, where the value of the property or goods is not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), is a Class 1 misdemeanor. In all cases of doubt, the jury shall, in the verdict, fix the value of the property stolen.

(b) The crime of larceny is a felony, without regard to the value of the property in question, if the larceny is any of the following:

(1) From the person.

(2) Committed pursuant to a violation of G.S. 14-51, 14-53, 14-54, 14-54.1, or 14-57.

(3) Of any explosive or incendiary device or substance. As used in this section, the phrase "explosive or incendiary device or substance" shall include any explosive or incendiary grenade or bomb; any dynamite, blasting powder, nitroglycerin, TNT, or other high explosive; or any device, ingredient for such device, or type or quantity of substance primarily useful for large-scale destruction of property by explosive or incendiary action or lethal injury to persons by explosive or incendiary action. This definition shall not include fireworks; or any form, type, or quantity of gasoline, butane gas, natural gas, or any other substance having explosive or incendiary properties but serving a legitimate nondestructive or nonlethal use in the form, type, or quantity stolen.

(4) Of any firearm. As used in this section, the term "firearm" shall include any instrument used in the propulsion of a shot, shell or bullet by the action of gunpowder or any other explosive substance within it. A "firearm," which at the time of theft is not capable of being fired, shall be included within this definition if it can be made to work. This definition shall not include air rifles or air pistols.

(5) Of any record or paper in the custody of the North Carolina State Archives as defined by G.S. 121-2(7) and G.S. 121-2(8).

(6) Committed after the defendant has been convicted in this State or in another jurisdiction for any offense of larceny under this section, or any offense deemed or punishable as larceny under this section, or of any substantially similar offense in any other jurisdiction, regardless of whether the prior convictions were misdemeanors, felonies, or a combination thereof, at least four times. A conviction shall not be included in the four prior convictions required under this subdivision unless the defendant was represented by counsel or waived counsel at first appearance or otherwise prior to trial or plea. If a person is convicted of more than one offense of misdemeanor larceny in a single session of district court, or in a single week of superior court or of a court in another jurisdiction, only one of the convictions may be used as a prior conviction under this subdivision; except that convictions based upon offenses which occurred in separate counties shall each count as a separate prior conviction under this subdivision.

(c) The crime of possessing stolen goods knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe them to be stolen in the circumstances described in subsection (b) is a felony or the crime of receiving stolen goods knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe them to be stolen in the circumstances described in subsection (b) is a felony, without regard to the value of the property in question.

(c1) Notwithstanding the provision of subsection (a) of this section, where the larceny or receiving or possession of stolen goods is of mail, the person shall be sentenced at one class level higher than the principal offense for which the person was convicted. For the purposes of this section, the term "mail" means a letter, package, bag, or other item of value sent or delivered to another by any method of delivery, including through a common carrier, commercial delivery service, or private delivery.

(d) Where the larceny or receiving or possession of stolen goods as described in subsection (a) of this section involves the merchandise of any store, a merchant, a merchant's agent, a merchant's employee, or a peace officer who detains or causes the arrest of any person shall not be held civilly liable for detention, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, or false arrest of the person detained or arrested, when such detention is upon the premises of the store or in a reasonable proximity thereto, is in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time, and, if in detaining or in causing the arrest of such person, the merchant, the merchant's agent, the merchant's employee, or the peace officer had, at the time of the detention or arrest, probable cause to believe that the person committed an offense under subsection (a) of this section. If the person being detained by the merchant, the merchant's agent, or the merchant's employee, is a minor under the age of 18 years, the merchant, the merchant's agent, or the merchant's employee, shall call or notify, or make a reasonable effort to call or notify the parent or guardian of the minor, during the period of detention. A merchant, a merchant's agent, or a merchant's employee, who makes a reasonable effort to call or notify the parent or guardian of the minor shall not be held civilly liable for failing to notify the parent or guardian of the minor.  (1895, c. 285; Rev., s. 3506; 1913, c. 118, s. 1; C.S., s. 4251; 1941, c. 178, s. 1; 1949, c. 145, s. 2; 1959, c. 1285; 1961, c. 39, s. 1; 1965, c. 621, s. 5; 1969, c. 522, s. 2; 1973, c. 238, ss. 1, 2; 1975, c. 163, s. 2; c. 696, s. 4; 1977, c. 978, ss. 2, 3; 1979, c. 408, s. 1; c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, ss. 11, 47; 1981, c. 63, s. 1; c. 179, s. 14; 1991, c. 523, s. 2; 1993, c. 539, s. 34; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1995, c. 185, s. 2; 2006-259, s. 4(a); 2012-154, s. 1; 2025-71, s. 9(a).)

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 336 cases (26 in the last 5 years), 1946–2026 · leading case: State v. Gardner, 340 S.E.2d 701 (N.C. 1986).
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State v. Gardner, 340 S.E.2d 701 (N.C. 1986). · cites it 18× “The 1969 amendments to N.C.G.S. § 14-72 provided, inter alia, that larceny committed pursuant to a burglary (N.”
State v. Brown, 145 S.E.2d 297 (N.C. 1965). · cites it 36× “, with the intent to commit the felony of larceny; that such instruction deprived them of the benefit of G.S. § 14-72, which provides that the larceny of property, or the receiving of stolen goods knowing them to be stolen, of the value of not more than $200.”
State v. Brice, 806 S.E.2d 32 (N.C. 2017). · cites it 10× “00), and the defendant has had the following four prior larceny convictions in which [s]he was represented by counsel or waived counsel: On or about MAY 8, 1996 the defendant committed the misdemeanor of LARCENY in violation of the law of the State of North Carolina, G.S. 14-72,…”
State v. Belton, 347 S.E.2d 755 (N.C. 1986). · cites it 12× “§ 14-72(b)(2), breaking or entering, and N.C.G.S. § 14-72(a), property worth more than $400.”
State v. Cooper, 124 S.E.2d 91 (N.C. 1962). · cites it 20× “They are now codified as G.S. 14-72 and G.S. 14-73, respectively. While it would appear the Act of 1913 was complete, it is noted the codifiers brought forward in C.”
State v. Maynard, 316 S.E.2d 197 (N.C. 1984). · cites it 8× “See G.S. § 14-72. [2] *219 Again, there was no legally justifiable reason for reading this indictment to the jury.”
State v. Perry, 278 S.E.2d 273 (N.C. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 23× “G.S. § 14-72 was amended, effective 1 January 1980, to increase from $200 to $400 the value which stolen property must exceed in order to constitute a felony.”
State v. Haymond, 691 S.E.2d 108 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 12× “Felonious Larceny of William Pelon’s property pursuant to the breaking or entering in violation of N.C.G.S. § 14-72(b)(2). 08 CRS 1474 Felonious Possession of stolen property belong to William Pelón in violation of N.”
State v. Buckom, 401 S.E.2d 362 (N.C. 1991). · cites it 12× “In N.C.G.S. § 14-72, however, the legislature declared inter alia that the larceny of goods of a value of not more than $400.”
State v. Bacon, 803 S.E.2d 402 (N.C. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 12× “N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72 provides two separate bases for elevating misdemeanor larceny to felonious larceny relevant to this appeal: (1) "Larceny of goods of the value of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) is a Class H felony[,]" N.”
State v. Jones, 655 S.E.2d 915 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 10× “See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72 (a) (2005). We disagree.”
State v. White, 369 S.E.2d 813 (N.C. 1988). · cites it 5× “G. S. § 14-72(a), while the value of the property stolen is not an element of armed robbery.”
Show all 336 citing cases →
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(A) — 1 case
State v. Bryant (N.C. Ct. App. 2019).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(a) — 66 cases
State v. Gardner, 340 S.E.2d 701 (N.C. 1986). “The 1969 amendments to N.C.G.S. § 14-72 provided, inter alia, that larceny committed pursuant to a burglary (N.”
State v. Belton, 347 S.E.2d 755 (N.C. 1986). “§ 14-72(b)(2), breaking or entering, and N.C.G.S. § 14-72(a), property worth more than $400.”
State v. White, 369 S.E.2d 813 (N.C. 1988). “G. S. § 14-72(a), while the value of the property stolen is not an element of armed robbery.”
State v. Perry, 278 S.E.2d 273 (N.C. Ct. App. 1981). “G.S. § 14-72 was amended, effective 1 January 1980, to increase from $200 to $400 the value which stolen property must exceed in order to constitute a felony.”
State v. Owens, 586 S.E.2d 519 (N.C. Ct. App. 2003).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(b) — 15 cases
State v. Belton, 347 S.E.2d 755 (N.C. 1986). “§ 14-72(b)(2), breaking or entering, and N.C.G.S. § 14-72(a), property worth more than $400.”
State v. Smith, 312 S.E.2d 222 (N.C. Ct. App. 1984).
State v. Thompson, 185 S.E.2d 666 (N.C. 1972).
In re S.D.R., 664 S.E.2d 414 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008).
State v. Mandina, 373 S.E.2d 155 (N.C. Ct. App. 1988).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(b)(1) — 6 cases
State v. Perry, 248 S.E.2d 755 (N.C. Ct. App. 1978).
State v. Young, 283 S.E.2d 812 (N.C. Ct. App. 1981).
State v. Wilfong, 398 S.E.2d 668 (N.C. Ct. App. 1990).
In re T.H., 776 S.E.2d 363 (N.C. Ct. App. 2015).
In re C.J.J., 775 S.E.2d 694 (N.C. Ct. App. 2015).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(b)(2) — 32 cases
State v. Haymond, 691 S.E.2d 108 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). “Felonious Larceny of William Pelon’s property pursuant to the breaking or entering in violation of N.C.G.S. § 14-72(b)(2). 08 CRS 1474 Felonious Possession of stolen property belong to William Pelón in violation of N.”
State v. Gardner, 340 S.E.2d 701 (N.C. 1986). “The 1969 amendments to N.C.G.S. § 14-72 provided, inter alia, that larceny committed pursuant to a burglary (N.”
State v. Belton, 347 S.E.2d 755 (N.C. 1986). “§ 14-72(b)(2), breaking or entering, and N.C.G.S. § 14-72(a), property worth more than $400.”
State v. Adams, 416 S.E.2d 380 (N.C. 1992).
State v. Edmondson, 340 S.E.2d 110 (N.C. 1986).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(b)(3) — 2 cases
State v. Sherrod, 663 S.E.2d 470 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008).
State v. Taylor, 317 S.E.2d 369 (N.C. 1984).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(b)(4) — 4 cases
State v. Adams, 416 S.E.2d 380 (N.C. 1992).
State v. West, 638 S.E.2d 508 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
State v. Boykin, 337 S.E.2d 678 (N.C. Ct. App. 1985).
State v. Taylor, 317 S.E.2d 369 (N.C. 1984).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(b)(6) — 2 cases
State v. Brice, 806 S.E.2d 32 (N.C. 2017). “00), and the defendant has had the following four prior larceny convictions in which [s]he was represented by counsel or waived counsel: On or about MAY 8, 1996 the defendant committed the misdemeanor of LARCENY in violation of the law of the State of North Carolina, G.S. 14-72,…”
State v. Edgerton (N.C. Ct. App. 2019).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(b)(l) — 7 cases
State v. Buckom, 401 S.E.2d 362 (N.C. 1991). “In N.C.G.S. § 14-72, however, the legislature declared inter alia that the larceny of goods of a value of not more than $400.”
State v. Young, 283 S.E.2d 812 (N.C. Ct. App. 1981).
State v. Wilson, 337 S.E.2d 470 (N.C. 1985).
State v. Ataei-Kachuei, 314 S.E.2d 751 (N.C. Ct. App. 1984).
State v. Taylor, 317 S.E.2d 369 (N.C. 1984).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(c) — 10 cases
State v. Perry, 278 S.E.2d 273 (N.C. Ct. App. 1981). “G.S. § 14-72 was amended, effective 1 January 1980, to increase from $200 to $400 the value which stolen property must exceed in order to constitute a felony.”
State v. Taylor, 317 S.E.2d 369 (N.C. 1984).
State v. Liles, 379 S.E.2d 821 (N.C. 1989).
State v. Taylor, 307 S.E.2d 173 (N.C. Ct. App. 1983).
State v. Aldridge, 334 S.E.2d 107 (N.C. Ct. App. 1985).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.