Pa. Cons. Stat. » 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) / Chapter 39
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3934 (2026)

  Theft from a motor vehicle.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 3934.  Theft from a motor vehicle.

(a)  Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of theft from a motor vehicle if he unlawfully takes or attempts to take possession of, carries away or exercises unlawful control over any movable property of another from a motor vehicle with the intent to deprive him thereof.

(b)  Grading.--

(1)  An offense under this section is:

(i)  a misdemeanor of the third degree if the amount involved was less than $50; or

(ii)  a misdemeanor of the second degree if the amount involved was $50 or more but less than $200; or

(iii)  a misdemeanor of the first degree if the amount involved was greater than $200.

(2)  When the offense is a third or subsequent offense within a five-year period, regardless of the amount involved and regardless of the grading of the prior offenses, an offense under this section is a felony of the third degree.

(Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1103, No.149, eff. 60 days; June 18, 1999, P.L.67, No.8, eff. 60 days)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2010–2024 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Emanuel, 86 A.3d 892 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014).
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Commonwealth v. Emanuel, 86 A.3d 892 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014). “18 Pa.C.S. § 3934(a) (emphasis added). At the close of his trial, Foster made a motion for judgment of acquittal, which the trial court granted, espousing the following rationale: Although in certain circumstances car parts may be moveable property, we do not find that a part…”
Com. v. Scott, R. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “In 2012 and 2013, Scott was charged with criminal offenses at the following dockets: 5578-2012 (Theft of a Motor Vehicle1); 1859-2013 (Theft ____________________________________________ 1 18 Pa. C.S. § 3934(a). J-S09033-16 by Deception2); 2081-2013 (Forgery,3 2 counts; Access…”
Com. v. Little, W. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “3 18 Pa.C.S. § 3934(a). 4 18 Pa.C.S. § 3925(a).”
Com. v. James, E. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “” 18 Pa.C.S. § 3934. The evidence of record reflects that on March 30, 2012, Officer Shawn Quinn responded to a call regarding a woman, identified as Appellant, who was standing in the middle of the roadway in a residential area.”
In the Interest of: D.S., a Minor (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “The court found acquitted him of both ____________________________________________ 3 See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3934(a), 3925(a), and 907. -3- J-S70021-16 counts of theft from a motor vehicle.”
Com. v. Carbone, C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “1 Appellant pled guilty to theft from a motor vehicle in violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 3934(a) at docket 1479-2010.”
Com. v. Odom, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “1 18 Pa.C.S. § 3934(a). 2 18 Pa.C.S. § 3921(a).”
Com. v. Leonard, Z. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “Appellant was also charged with, and found not guilty of, theft from a motor vehicle, 18 Pa. C.S. § 3934(A). ____________________________________ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.”
Com. v. Mitchell, T. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “____________________________________________ 1 18 Pa.C.S. § 3934. 2 Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.”
Com. v. Camero, P. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “§ 780-113(a)(31) and 18 Pa.C.S. § 3934(a), respectively. ____________________________________ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.”
Com. v. Camero, P. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “§ 780-113(a)(31) and 18 Pa.C.S. § 3934(a), respectively. 4 Gagnon v.”
Com. v. Moore, C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3934(a), 4106(a)(1), 5506, 3503(b)(1)(ii), 3921(b), 3925(a); and 75 Pa.”
Show all 15 citing cases →
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3934(A) — 1 case
Com. v. Leonard, Z. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “Appellant was also charged with, and found not guilty of, theft from a motor vehicle, 18 Pa. C.S. § 3934(A). ____________________________________ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3934(a) — 12 cases
Commonwealth v. Emanuel, 86 A.3d 892 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014). “18 Pa.C.S. § 3934(a) (emphasis added). At the close of his trial, Foster made a motion for judgment of acquittal, which the trial court granted, espousing the following rationale: Although in certain circumstances car parts may be moveable property, we do not find that a part…”
Com. v. Scott, R. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “In 2012 and 2013, Scott was charged with criminal offenses at the following dockets: 5578-2012 (Theft of a Motor Vehicle1); 1859-2013 (Theft ____________________________________________ 1 18 Pa. C.S. § 3934(a). J-S09033-16 by Deception2); 2081-2013 (Forgery,3 2 counts; Access…”
Com. v. Little, W. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “3 18 Pa.C.S. § 3934(a). 4 18 Pa.C.S. § 3925(a).”
In the Interest of: D.S., a Minor (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “The court found acquitted him of both ____________________________________________ 3 See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3934(a), 3925(a), and 907. -3- J-S70021-16 counts of theft from a motor vehicle.”
Com. v. Carbone, C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “1 Appellant pled guilty to theft from a motor vehicle in violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 3934(a) at docket 1479-2010.”
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