PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Stealing someone’s personal property in places that fall under the United States’ special maritime and territorial jurisdiction is a federal crime. If the item is worth more than $1,000 or was taken from a person, the penalty can be a fine, up to five years in prison, or both; other thefts carry a fine, up to one year in jail, or both. If the stolen item is a debt record or similar written paper, its value is the amount owed or the value the paper shows.

Title 18, §661

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, takes and carries away, with intent to steal or purloin, any personal property of another shall be punished as follows: If the property taken is of a value exceeding $1,000, or is taken from the person of another, by a fine under this title, or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both; in all other cases, by a fine under this title or by imprisonment not more than one year, or both. If the property stolen consists of any evidence of debt, or other written instrument, the amount of money due thereon, or secured to be paid thereby and remaining unsatisfied, or which in any contingency might be collected thereon, or the value of the property the title to which is shown thereby, or the sum which might be recovered in the absence thereof, shall be the value of the property stolen.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 466 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 287, 35 Stat. 1144). Words “within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States” were inserted to conform with section 7 of this title. (See reviser’s note under that section.) The maximum fine and imprisonment provisions were modified and “five years” and “$5,000” substituted for “ten years” and “$10,000” and the sum of $100 was substituted for $50 as more in accord with other sections of this chapter. (See section 641 of this title.) Minor changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–294, in second par., substituted “$1,000” for “$100” and substituted “fine under this title” for “fine of under this title” in two places. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, in second par., substituted “under this title” for “not more than $5,000” after “another, by a fine of” and for “not more than $1,000” after “cases, by a fine of”.

§661 Within Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction