Editing Theft (section)

====California====
The [[Theft Act of 1927]] consolidated a variety of common law crimes into theft.  The state now distinguishes between two types of theft, grand theft and petty theft.<ref>California Penal Code Section 486. For the entire portion of the Penal Code covering theft, [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=484-502.9 leginfo.ca] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628225209/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=484-502.9 |date=2010-06-28 }}</ref> The older crimes of [[embezzlement]], [[larceny]], and [[stealing]], and any preexisting references to them now fall under the theft statute.<ref>California Penal Code Section 490a.</ref>

There are a number of criminal statutes in the California Penal Code defining grand theft in different amounts. Grand theft generally consists of the theft of something of value over $950 (including money, labor or property but is lower with respect to various specified property),<ref>California Penal Code Section 487.</ref> Theft is also considered grand theft when more than $250 in crops or marine life forms are stolen, "when the property is taken from the person of another," or when the property stolen is an automobile, farm animal, or firearm.<ref>{{cite web|title=California Penal Code, Sec. 487|url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=487|website=California legislative Information|publisher=California State Legislature|access-date=25 October 2017}}</ref>

Petty theft is the default category for all other thefts.<ref>California Penal Code Section 488.</ref>

Grand theft is punishable by up to a year in jail or prison, and may be charged (depending upon the circumstances) as a [[misdemeanor]] or [[felony]],<ref>California Penal Code Section 489.</ref> while petty theft is a [[misdemeanor]] punishable by a fine or imprisonment not exceeding six months in [[jail]] or both.<ref>California Penal Code Section 490.</ref>