Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.56
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030 (2026)

Theft in the first degree

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Except as provided in RCW 9A.56.400, a person is guilty of theft in the first degree if he or she commits theft of:
(a) Property or services which exceed(s) five thousand dollars in value other than a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010;
(b) Property of any value, other than a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 or a motor vehicle, taken from the person of another;
(c) A search and rescue dog, as defined in RCW 9.91.175, while the search and rescue dog is on duty;
(d) Commercial metal property, nonferrous metal property, or private metal property, and the costs of the damage to the owner's property exceed five thousand dollars in value; or
(e) Property or equipment used by firefighters or emergency medical service providers that is critical to their work in an emergency setting and taken from a fire station, fire department vehicle, or emergency medical services building, facility, structure, or vehicle; and
(i) The loss of the property or equipment significantly hindered or delayed the firefighter's or emergency medical service provider's ability to respond to an ongoing emergency; or
(ii) The property or equipment exceeds $1,000 in value.
(2) Theft in the first degree is a class B felony.
[ 2025 c 286 s 2; 2017 c 266 s 10; 2013 c 322 s 2; 2012 c 233 s 2; 2009 c 431 s 7; 2007 c 199 s 3; 2005 c 212 s 2; 1995 c 129 s 11 (Initiative Measure No. 159); 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.56.030.]

Notes:

Finding—Intent—2017 c 266: See note following RCW 9A.42.020.
Applicability—2009 c 431: See note following RCW 4.24.230.
Findings—Intent—Short title—2007 c 199: See notes following RCW 9A.56.065.
Findings and intent—Short title—Severability—Captions not law—1995 c 129: See notes following RCW 9.94A.510.
Civil action for shoplifting by adults, minors: RCW 4.24.230.
Property crime database, liability: RCW 4.24.340.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 183 cases (18 in the last 5 years), 1979–2025 · leading case: United States v. Jennings, 515 F.3d 980 (9th Cir. 2008).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
United States v. Jennings, 515 F.3d 980 (9th Cir. 2008). · cites it 6× “Theft Jennings was convicted of theft under Wash. Rev.Code § 9A.56.030(1)(b), which states: "A person is guilty of theft in the first degree if he or she commits theft of .”
State v. Oxborrow, 723 P.2d 1123 (Wash. 1986). · cites it 4× “While first degree theft requires a theft of at least $1,500, RCW 9A.56.030, Oxborrow defrauded investors of $1 million after he received the court's cease and desist order.”
State v. Delmarter, 618 P.2d 99 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.56.030 establishes the elements of theft in the first degree: (1) A person is guilty of theft in the first degree if he commits theft of: (a) Property or services which exceed(s) one thousand five hundred dollars in value; .”
State v. Shriner, 681 P.2d 237 (Wash. 1984). · cites it 4× “EGREE THEFT, committed as follows: That the defendant, on or about the 15th day of May, 1979, did wrongfully obtain and exert unauthorized control over property and services, to-wit: 1979 Ford Mustang, Washington License UFD 860, belonging to Airways Rent-a-Car, of a value…”
State v. Linehan, 56 P.3d 542 (Wash. 2002). · cites it 2× “020(1)(a) and (b) and RCW 9A.56.030(1)(a): TIMOTHY LINEHAN ... with intent to deprive another of property .”
State v. Linehan, 147 Wash. 2d 638 (Wash. 2002). · cites it 2× “020(l)(a) and (b) and RCW 9A.56.030(l)(a) and (b): TIMOTHY LINEHAN.”
State v. Kinneman, 84 P.3d 882 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 3× “*334 Unit of Prosecution Analysis Kinnemann was convicted of 28 counts of first degree theft under RCW 9A.56.030(l)(a) and 39 counts of second degree theft under RCW 9A.”
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 2× “By comparison, at present, the crime of first degree theft (property or services with a value in excess of $1,500) is a class B felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years.”
State v. Ehrhardt, 276 P.3d 332 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 2× “Former RCW 9A.56.030 (1995); 119 Wash.App. at 944-45 , 83 P.”
State v. Knutz, 161 Wash. App. 395 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “Because the jury heard evidence of several individual thefts, any one of which would have satisfied the elements of first degree theft under RCW 9A.56.030 regardless of whether the trial court had required the jury to agree unanimously on individual instances of Knutz’s conduct,…”
Khaimraj Singh v. John Ashcroft, Attorney Gen. of the United States of Am., 383 F.3d 144 (3rd Cir. 2004). “Penal Code § 487(a) (grand theft is committed "[w]hen the money, labor, or real or personal property taken is of a *160 value exceeding four hundred dollars ($400)”); Wash. Rev.Code § 9A.56.030(1)(a) (theft in the first degree is theft of "[pjroperty or services which exceed(s)…”
State of Washington v. Gary Bruce Farnworth, 398 P.3d 1172 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 4× “260, §§ 9A.56.030- .050. Under this scheme, there are three degrees of theft, differentiated largely by value.”
Show all 183 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030(1) — 11 cases
State v. Morley, 83 P.3d 1023 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State v. Sass, 620 P.2d 79 (Wash. 1980).
State v. Smith, 798 P.2d 1146 (Wash. 1990).
State v. Morley, 83 P.3d 1023 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State v. Dingman, 202 P.3d 388 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030(1)(a) — 61 cases
State v. Linehan, 56 P.3d 542 (Wash. 2002). “020(1)(a) and (b) and RCW 9A.56.030(1)(a): TIMOTHY LINEHAN ... with intent to deprive another of property .”
Khaimraj Singh v. John Ashcroft, Attorney Gen. of the United States of Am., 383 F.3d 144 (3rd Cir. 2004). “Penal Code § 487(a) (grand theft is committed "[w]hen the money, labor, or real or personal property taken is of a *160 value exceeding four hundred dollars ($400)”); Wash. Rev.Code § 9A.56.030(1)(a) (theft in the first degree is theft of "[pjroperty or services which exceed(s)…”
State v. Shriner, 681 P.2d 237 (Wash. 1984). “EGREE THEFT, committed as follows: That the defendant, on or about the 15th day of May, 1979, did wrongfully obtain and exert unauthorized control over property and services, to-wit: 1979 Ford Mustang, Washington License UFD 860, belonging to Airways Rent-a-Car, of a value…”
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “By comparison, at present, the crime of first degree theft (property or services with a value in excess of $1,500) is a class B felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years.”
State v. Oxborrow, 723 P.2d 1123 (Wash. 1986). “While first degree theft requires a theft of at least $1,500, RCW 9A.56.030, Oxborrow defrauded investors of $1 million after he received the court's cease and desist order.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030(1)(b) — 12 cases
United States v. Jennings, 515 F.3d 980 (9th Cir. 2008). “Theft Jennings was convicted of theft under Wash. Rev.Code § 9A.56.030(1)(b), which states: "A person is guilty of theft in the first degree if he or she commits theft of .”
State v. Tvedt, 153 Wash. 2d 705 (Wash. 2005).
State v. Tvedt, 107 P.3d 728 (Wash. 2005).
State v. Netling, 731 P.2d 11 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987).
State Of Washington v. Lendin Saiti (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030(1)(d) — 1 case
State of Washington v. Jason Lee Priest (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030(2) — 18 cases
In re the Pers. Restraint of West, 154 Wash. 2d 204 (Wash. 2005).
State v. Denison, 897 P.2d 437 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995).
State v. Weyrich, 163 Wash. 2d 554 (Wash. 2008).
State v. Weyrich, 182 P.3d 965 (Wash. 2008).
State v. Mehrabian, 308 P.3d 660 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030(a) — 1 case
State v. Atterton, 915 P.2d 535 (Wash. Ct. App. 1996).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030(l) — 2 cases
State Of Washington v. Chase Scott Poledna (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State of Washington v. Vicki Sue Barrett (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030(l)(a) — 24 cases
State v. Linehan, 147 Wash. 2d 638 (Wash. 2002). “020(l)(a) and (b) and RCW 9A.56.030(l)(a) and (b): TIMOTHY LINEHAN.”
State v. Kinneman, 84 P.3d 882 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “*334 Unit of Prosecution Analysis Kinnemann was convicted of 28 counts of first degree theft under RCW 9A.56.030(l)(a) and 39 counts of second degree theft under RCW 9A.”
State v. Shriner, 681 P.2d 237 (Wash. 1984). “EGREE THEFT, committed as follows: That the defendant, on or about the 15th day of May, 1979, did wrongfully obtain and exert unauthorized control over property and services, to-wit: 1979 Ford Mustang, Washington License UFD 860, belonging to Airways Rent-a-Car, of a value…”
State v. Reeder, 330 P.3d 786 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “By comparison, at present, the crime of first degree theft (property or services with a value in excess of $1,500) is a class B felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.030(l)(b) — 1 case
United States v. Jennings, 515 F.3d 980 (9th Cir. 2008). “Theft Jennings was convicted of theft under Wash. Rev.Code § 9A.56.030(1)(b), which states: "A person is guilty of theft in the first degree if he or she commits theft of .”
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