Auto theft is the crime of stealing a motor vehicle, including motorcycles and tractors. The value of the stolen vehicle determines the severity of the punishment. Prosecutors must prove that the defendant knowingly obtained or used another person’s vehicle with the intention of permanently depriving the owner. Popular terms for different types of auto theft include joyriding and icing. Perpetrators may attempt to resell stolen vehicles, but dismantling and selling parts is more common to avoid detection.
Auto theft is a crime that occurs when a person steals – or tries to steal – a motor vehicle. In addition to cars, buses and trucks, auto theft can include the theft of other types of motorized devices, such as motorcycles, snowmobiles and tractors, which are legally permitted on public roads. Most jurisdictions do not include theft of airplanes, bulldozers, boats and spacecraft in this same category. The crime is simply referred to as motor theft in many jurisdictions.
“Large” versus “small” typically indicates that the stolen car was valued above a certain dollar amount, which is usually set by law. While petty theft is usually classified as a misdemeanor, auto theft is often considered a misdemeanor. In general, this means that a major theft conviction will lead to higher fines and longer jail times than a minor theft conviction. Repeat offenders usually receive harsher sentences. Those with a long history of car theft could even be sentenced to life in prison.
To secure a conviction, a prosecutor usually has to prove two things. These elements may vary slightly from one jurisdiction to another. First, the prosecutor must prove that the defendant knowingly obtained or used another person’s motor vehicle. In addition, the prosecutor usually has to prove that the defendant intended to permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle.
A number of popular terms are used to further describe the different types of auto theft. For example, auto theft occurs when someone steals a motor vehicle while it is occupied. This can result in additional penalties, as many jurisdictions also consider it robbery. Joyriding is used to describe a situation that occurs when someone takes a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and then abandons it. Icing occurs in the winter when someone steals a car while the driver is warming it up.
Auto theft perpetrators sometimes attempt to resell stolen vehicles. This can pose a problem for thieves, however, if the vehicle is registered with a licensing authority, because it can be traced. As a result, a perpetrator is more likely to dismantle the vehicle and sell any parts that are not registered with a vehicle approval authority. Thieves with more sophisticated networks can even transport the stolen vehicle to another country to avoid the difficulties associated with selling a registered vehicle.
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