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

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040 (2026)

Theft in the second 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 second degree if he or she commits theft of:
(a) Property or services which exceed(s) seven hundred fifty dollars in value but does not exceed five thousand dollars in value, other than a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 or a motor vehicle;
(b) 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;
(c) Commercial metal property, nonferrous metal property, or private metal property, as those terms are defined in *RCW 19.290.010, and the costs of the damage to the owner's property exceed seven hundred fifty dollars but does not exceed five thousand dollars in value; or
(d) An access device.
(2) Theft in the second degree is a class C felony.
[ 2017 c 266 s 11; 2013 c 322 s 3; 2012 c 233 s 3; 2009 c 431 s 8; 2007 c 199 s 4; 1995 c 129 s 12 (Initiative Measure No. 159); 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 433; 1987 c 140 s 2; 1982 1st ex.s. c 47 s 15; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.56.040.]

Notes:

*Reviser's note: RCW 19.290.010 was amended by 2024 c 301 s 3, deleting the definition of "private metal property," effective April 1, 2025.
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.
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 7 ss 401-410, 413-416, 418-437, and 439-460: See note following RCW 9.41.010.
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 47: See note following RCW 9.41.190.
Civil action for shoplifting by adults, minors: RCW 4.24.230.
Property crime database, liability: RCW 4.24.340.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 151 cases (19 in the last 5 years), 1978–2026 · leading case: State v. Ehrhardt, 276 P.3d 332 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012).
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State v. Ehrhardt, 276 P.3d 332 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 16× “RCW 9A.56.040(1)(a). Ehrhardt argues that Glaze's testimony as to the value of the items was not sufficient because Glaze testified only as to their cost.”
State v. Gocken, 896 P.2d 1267 (Wash. 1995). · cites it 7× “Crisler was charged by the County of Douglas with second-degree theft, a felony, in violation of former RCW 9A.56.040. [4] The criminal conspiracy charge and the theft charge arose from the same incident at Lamonts.”
Ewing v. California, 538 U.S. 11 (2003). · cites it 2× “Washington: not more than 14 months (with exact sentencing range dependent on details of offender score), Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.56.040(1)(a), (2) (2000); §§ 9.”
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 4× “020(1)(b); RCW 9A.56.040(1)(a); RCW 9A.56.010(12)(c).”
State of Washington v. Dennis Wayne Jussila, 392 P.3d 1108 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.56.040 creates the crime of theft in the second degree.”
State v. Longshore, 5 P.3d 1256 (Wash. 2000). · cites it 3× “RCW 9A.56.040(l)(a). “Property of another” implicates the definition of “owner” provided by RCW 9A.”
State v. Longshore, 5 P.3d 1256 (Wash. 2000). · cites it 3× “RCW 9A.56.040(1)(a). "Property of another" implicates the definition of "owner" provided by RCW 9A.”
State v. Kinneman, 84 P.3d 882 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 3× “030(l)(a) and 39 counts of second degree theft under RCW 9A.56.040. When a double jeopardy challenge relates to multiple convictions under the same statute, the proper inquiry is what “unit of prosecution” the legislature intended as the punishable act when enacting the criminal…”
State v. Smith, 610 P.2d 869 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 2× “030; second-degree theft, RCW 9A.56.040; unlawful imprisonment, RCW 9A.”
State v. Sass, 620 P.2d 79 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 3× “RCW 9A.56.040 and RCW 9A.20-.020(l)(c). *727 We affirm the conviction of petitioner Sass but modify the same to provide that the crime involved is second degree theft.”
State v. Greathouse, 56 P.3d 569 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.56.040. Here, the State presented no evidence of the property’s rental value when Lee received the $700 check in late June.”
State v. Hassan, 336 P.3d 99 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.56.040 was amended in 2013, but this amendment did not affect the subsection cited.”
Show all 151 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040(1) — 13 cases
State v. Gocken, 896 P.2d 1267 (Wash. 1995). “Crisler was charged by the County of Douglas with second-degree theft, a felony, in violation of former RCW 9A.56.040. [4] The criminal conspiracy charge and the theft charge arose from the same incident at Lamonts.”
State v. Souza, 805 P.2d 237 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991).
State v. Wiley, 880 P.2d 983 (Wash. 1994).
State v. Morley, 83 P.3d 1023 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State v. Monk, 711 P.2d 365 (Wash. Ct. App. 1985).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040(1)(a) — 45 cases
State v. Ehrhardt, 276 P.3d 332 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “RCW 9A.56.040(1)(a). Ehrhardt argues that Glaze's testimony as to the value of the items was not sufficient because Glaze testified only as to their cost.”
Ewing v. California, 538 U.S. 11 (2003). “Washington: not more than 14 months (with exact sentencing range dependent on details of offender score), Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.56.040(1)(a), (2) (2000); §§ 9.”
State v. Longshore, 5 P.3d 1256 (Wash. 2000). “RCW 9A.56.040(1)(a). "Property of another" implicates the definition of "owner" provided by RCW 9A.”
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “020(1)(b); RCW 9A.56.040(1)(a); RCW 9A.56.010(12)(c).”
State v. Wilson, 171 P.3d 501 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040(1)(c) — 6 cases
State v. Newton, 714 P.2d 684 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986).
State v. Askham, 86 P.3d 1224 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State of Washington v. David Michael Lust (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Rose, 246 P.3d 1277 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Johnson (Wash. 2017).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040(1)(d) — 5 cases
State v. RLD, 133 P.3d 505 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006).
State Of Washington, Res/cross-app. v. John Henry Johnson, App/cross-res. (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State Of Washington v. Kenneth Roshawn Turner (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
State Of Washington, V Melwyn Van Fields (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
State Of Washington, V. Joshua David Michael (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040(2) — 8 cases
State v. Fain, 617 P.2d 720 (Wash. 1980). “020(1)(b); RCW 9A.56.040(1)(a); RCW 9A.56.010(12)(c).”
State v. Green, 6 P.3d 53 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000).
State v. Green, 101 Wash. App. 885 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000).
State v. Jendrey, 730 P.2d 1374 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986).
State of Washington v. Mary Annvalee Faucett (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040(c) — 2 cases
State v. BJS, 169 P.3d 34 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
State v. BJS, 154 P.3d 930 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040(l)(a) — 29 cases
State v. Ehrhardt, 276 P.3d 332 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “RCW 9A.56.040(1)(a). Ehrhardt argues that Glaze's testimony as to the value of the items was not sufficient because Glaze testified only as to their cost.”
Ewing v. California, 538 U.S. 11 (2003). “Washington: not more than 14 months (with exact sentencing range dependent on details of offender score), Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.56.040(1)(a), (2) (2000); §§ 9.”
State v. Longshore, 5 P.3d 1256 (Wash. 2000). “RCW 9A.56.040(l)(a). “Property of another” implicates the definition of “owner” provided by RCW 9A.”
State v. Kinneman, 84 P.3d 882 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “030(l)(a) and 39 counts of second degree theft under RCW 9A.56.040. When a double jeopardy challenge relates to multiple convictions under the same statute, the proper inquiry is what “unit of prosecution” the legislature intended as the punishable act when enacting the criminal…”
State v. Sass, 620 P.2d 79 (Wash. 1980). “RCW 9A.56.040 and RCW 9A.20-.020(l)(c). *727 We affirm the conviction of petitioner Sass but modify the same to provide that the crime involved is second degree theft.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040(l)(c) — 6 cases
State v. Askham, 120 Wash. App. 872 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State v. Standifer, 750 P.2d 258 (Wash. 1988).
State v. Lust, 300 P.3d 846 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Conner, 791 P.2d 261 (Wash. Ct. App. 1990).
State v. Rose, 160 Wash. App. 29 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.040(l)(d) — 4 cases
State Of Washington v. Angel Rose Marie Nelson, 381 P.3d 84 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State v. R.L.D., 132 Wash. App. 699 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006).
Matter of Pers. Restraint of Holmes, 848 P.2d 754 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993).
State v. Johnson (Wash. 2017).
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