Chapter 943 — CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY

943.01 Damage to property. (1) Whoever intentionally causes damage to any physical property of another without the person’s consent is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (2) Any person violating sub. (1) under any of the following circumstances is guilty of a Class I felony: (a) 1.…

943.011 Damage or threat to property of witness. (1) In this section: (a) “Family member” means a spouse, child, stepchild, foster child, parent, sibling, or grandchild. (b) “Witness” has the meaning given in s. 940.41 (3). (2) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Cla…

943.012 Criminal damage to or graffiti on religious and other property. Whoever intentionally causes damage to, intentionally marks, draws or writes with ink or another substance on or intentionally etches into any physical property of an- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (…

943.013 Criminal damage; threat; property of judge. (1) In this section: (a) “Family member” means a parent, spouse, sibling, child, stepchild, or foster child. (b) “Judge” means a supreme court justice, court of appeals judge, circuit court judge, municipal judge, temporary or p…

943.014 Demolition of historic building without authorization. (1) In this section, “historic building” means any building or structure that is listed on, or any building or structure within and contributing to a historic district that is listed on, the national register of histo…

943.015 Criminal damage; threat; property of department of revenue employee. (1) In this section, “family member” means a parent, spouse, sibling, child, stepchild, or foster child. (2) Whoever intentionally causes or threatens to cause damage to any physical property which belon…

943.017 Graffiti. (1) Whoever intentionally marks, draws or writes with paint, ink or another substance on or intentionally etches into the physical property of another without the other person’s consent is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (2) Any person violating sub. (1) under …

943.02 Arson of buildings; damage of property by explosives. (1) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class C felony: (a) By means of fire, intentionally damages any building of another without the other’s consent; or (b) By means of fire, intentionally damages any bu…

943.03 Arson of property other than building. Whoever, by means of fire, intentionally damages any property of another without the person’s consent, if the property is not a building and has a value of $100 or more, is guilty of a Class I felony. History: 1977 c. 173; 1999 a. 85;…

943.04 Arson with intent to defraud. Whoever, by means of fire, damages any property, other than a building, with intent to defraud an insurer of that property is guilty of a Class H felony. Proof that the actor recovered or attempted to recover on a policy 4 of insurance by reas…

943.05 Placing of combustible materials an attempt. Whoever places any combustible or explosive material or device in or near any property with intent to set fire to or blow up such property is guilty of an attempt to violate either s. 943.01, 943.012, 943.013, 943.02, 943.03 or …

943.06 Molotov cocktails. (1) As used in this section, “fire bomb” means a breakable container containing a flammable liquid with a flash point of 150 degrees Fahrenheit or less, having a wick or similar device capable of being ignited, but does not mean a device commercially man…

943.065 Injury caused by arson: treble damages. (1) Any person who incurs injury to his or her person or his, her or its business or property by reason of a violation of s. 943.02, 943.03, 943.04, 943.05 or 943.06, including the state or any municipality which incurs costs in ext…

943.07 Criminal damage to railroads. (1) Whoever intentionally causes damage or who causes another person to damage, tamper, change or destroy any railroad track, switch, bridge, trestle, tunnel or signal or any railroad property used in providing rail services, which could cause…

943.10 Burglary. (1g) In this section: (a) “Boat” means any ship or vessel that has sleeping quarters. May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 5 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. (b) “Motor home” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (33m). (1m) Whoever intentionally ente…

943.11 Entry into locked vehicle. Whoever intentionally enters the locked and enclosed portion or compartment of the vehicle of another without consent and with intent to steal therefrom is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. History: 1977 c. 173.

943.12 Possession of burglarious tools. Whoever has in personal possession any device or instrumentality intended, designed or adapted for use in breaking into any depository designed for the safekeeping of any valuables or into any building or room, with intent to use such devic…

943.125 Entry into locked coin box. (1) Whoever intentionally enters a locked coin box of another without consent and with intent to steal therefrom is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (2) Whoever has in personal possession any device or instrumentality intended, designed or adap…

943.13 Trespass to land. (1e) In this section: (aL) “Carry” has the meaning given in s. 175.60 (1) (ag). (ar) “Dwelling unit” means a structure or that part of a structure which is used or intended to be used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one person or by 2 or more pe…

943.14 Criminal trespass to dwellings. (1) In this section, “dwelling” means a structure or part of a structure that is used or intended to be used as a home or residence by one or more persons to the exclusion of all others. For the purposes of this section, a dwelling meets tha…

943.143 Criminal trespass to an energy provider property. (1) In this section: (a) “Energy provider” means any of the following: 1. A public utility under s. 196.01 (5) (a) that is engaged in any of the following: a. The production, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of heat, …

943.145 Criminal trespass to a medical facility. (1) In this section, “medical facility” means a hospital under s. 50.33 (2) or a clinic or office that is used by a physician licensed under ch. 448 and that is subject to rules promulgated by the medical examining board for the cl…

943.15 Entry onto a construction site or into a locked building, dwelling or room. (1) Whoever enters the locked or posted construction site or the locked and enclosed building, dwelling or room of another without the consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of the pre…

943.20 Theft. (1) ACTS. Whoever does any of the following may be penalized as provided in sub. (3): (a) Intentionally takes and carries away, uses, transfers, conceals, or retains possession of movable property of another without the other’s consent and with intent to deprive the…

943.201 Unauthorized use of an individual’s personal identifying information or documents. (1) In this section: (a) “Personal identification document” means any of the following: 1. A document containing personal identifying information. 2. An individual’s card or plate, if it ca…

943.202 Unauthorized use or possession of a credit card scanner. (1) In this section: (a) “Access” means access, read, scan, intercept, obtain, memorize, or temporarily or permanently store. (b) “Credit card” means a credit card, charge card, debit card, or other card that allows…

943.203 Unauthorized use of an entity’s identifying information or documents. (1) In this section: (a) “Entity” means a person other than an individual. (b) “Identification document” means any of the following: 1. A document containing identifying information. 2. An entity’s card…

943.204 Theft of mail. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Adult at risk” has the meaning given in s. 55.01 (1e). (b) “Course of conduct” has the meaning given in s. 947.013 (1) (a). (c) “Elder adult at risk” has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (br). (d) “Mail” means a lette…

943.205 Theft of trade secrets. (1) Whoever with intent to deprive or withhold from the owner thereof the control of a trade secret, or with intent to appropriate a trade secret to his or her own use or the use of another not the owner, and without authority of the owner, does an…

943.206 Definitions. In this section and ss. 943.207 to 943.209: (1) “Manufacturer” means a person who transfers sounds to a recording. (2) “Owner” means the person who owns sounds in or on a recording from which the transferred recorded sounds are directly or indirectly derived.…

943.207 Transfer of recorded sounds for unlawful use. (1) Whoever does any of the following may be penalized as provided in sub. (3m): (a) Intentionally transfers, without the consent of the owner, any sounds first embodied in or on a recording before February 15, 1972, with inte…

943.208 Recording performance without consent of May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 943.208 CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY performance owner. (1) Whoever does any of the following for commercial advantage or private financial gain may be penalized as provided in …

943.209 Failure to disclose manufacturer of recording. (1) Whoever does any of the following for commercial advantage or private financial gain may be penalized as provided in sub. (2): (a) Knowingly advertises, offers for sale or rent, sells, rents or transports a recording that…

943.21 Fraud on hotel or restaurant keeper, recreational attraction, taxicab operator, or gas station. (1c) In this section, “recreational attraction” means a public accommodation designed for amusement and includes chair lifts or ski resorts, water parks, theaters, entertainment…

943.212 Fraud on hotel or restaurant keeper, recreational attraction, taxicab operator, or gas station; civil liability. (1) Any person who incurs injury to his or her business or property as a result of a violation of s. 943.21 may bring a civil action against any adult or emanc…

943.215 Absconding without paying rent. (1) Whoever having obtained the tenancy, as defined in s. 704.01 (4), of residential property he or she is entitled to occupy, intentionally absconds without paying all current and past rent due is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (2) A per…

943.22 Use of cheating tokens. Whoever obtains the property or services of another by depositing anything which he or she knows is not lawful money or an authorized token in any May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 943.22 CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY receptacle u…

943.225 Refusal to pay for a motor bus ride. (1) In this section, “motor bus” has the meaning specified in s. 340.01 (31). (2) Whoever intentionally enters a motor bus that transports persons for hire and refuses to pay, without delay, upon demand of the operator or other person …

943.23 Operating vehicle without owner’s consent. (1) In this section: (a) “Drive” means the exercise of physical control over the speed and direction of a vehicle while it is in motion. (b) “Major part of a vehicle” means any of the following: 1. The engine. 2. The transmission.…

943.231 Carjacking. (1) Whoever, while possessing a dangerous weapon and by the use of, or the threat of the use of, force or the weapon against another, intentionally takes any vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of a Class B felony. (2) Whoever, by the use of for…

943.24 Issue of worthless check. (1) Whoever issues any check or other order for the payment of not more than $2,500 which, at the time of issuance, he or she intends shall not be paid is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (2) Whoever issues any single check or other order for the …

943.245 Worthless checks; civil liability. (1) In this section, “pecuniary loss” means: (a) All special damages, but not general damages, including, without limitation because of enumeration, the money equivalent of loss resulting from property taken, destroyed, broken or otherwi…

943.26 Removing or damaging encumbered real property. (1) Any mortgagor of real property or vendee under a land contract who, without the consent of the mortgagee or vendor, intentionally removes or damages the real property so as to substantially impair the mortgagee’s or vendor…

943.27 Possession of records of certain usurious loans. Any person who knowingly possesses any writing representing or constituting a record of a charge of, contract for, receipt of or demand for a rate of interest or consideration exceeding $20 upon $100 for one year computed up…

943.28 Loan sharking prohibited. (1) For the purposes of this section: (a) To collect an extension of credit means to induce in any way any person to make repayment thereof. (b) An extortionate extension of credit is any extension of credit with respect to which it is the underst…

943.30 Threats to injure or accuse of crime. (1) Whoever, either verbally or by any written or printed communication, Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 18 maliciously threatens to accuse or accuses another of any crime or offense, or threatens or commits any injury to the person, propert…

943.31 Threats to communicate derogatory information. Whoever maliciously threatens, with intent to extort money or any pecuniary advantage whatever, or with intent to compel the person so threatened to do any act against the person’s will, to disseminate or to communicate to any…

943.32 Robbery. (1) Whoever, with intent to steal, takes property from the person or presence of the owner by either of the following means is guilty of a Class E felony: (a) By using force against the person of the owner with intent thereby to overcome his or her physical resist…

943.34 Receiving stolen property. (1) Except as provided under s. 948.62, whoever knowingly or intentionally receives or conceals stolen property is guilty of: (a) A Class A misdemeanor, if the value of the property does not exceed $2,500. (bf) A Class I felony, if the value of t…

943.37 Alteration of property identification marks. Whoever does any of the following with intent to prevent the identification of the property involved is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor: (1) Alters or removes any identification mark on any log or other lumber without the consen…