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Larceny-theft

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The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines larceny-theft as the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another.  Examples are thefts of bicycles, motor vehicle parts and accessories, shoplifting, pocket-picking, or the stealing of any property or article that is not taken by force and violence or by fraud.  Attempted larcenies are included.  Embezzlement, confidence games, forgery, check fraud, etc., are excluded.

Overview

  • In 2011, there were an estimated 6,159,795 larceny-thefts nationwide.
  • The number of estimated larceny-thefts dropped 0.7 percent in 2011 when compared with the 2010 estimate.  The 2011 figure was 6.6 percent lower than the 2007 estimate.
  • The rate of estimated larceny-thefts in 2011 was 1,976.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.
  • From 2010 to 2011, the rate of estimated larceny-thefts declined 1.4 percent, and from 2002 to 2011, the rate decreased 19.3 percent.  (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
  • Larceny-thefts accounted for an estimated 68.0 percent of property crimes in 2011.  (Based on Table 1.)
  • The average value of property taken during larceny-thefts was $987 per offense. Applying this average value to the estimated number of larceny-thefts showed that the loss to victims nationally was more than $6 billion.  (Based on Tables 1 and 23.)
  • Over 24 percent (24.8) of larceny-thefts were thefts from motor vehicles. (Based on Table 23.)

Expanded larceny-theft data

Expanded offense data are the details of the various offenses that the UCR Program collects beyond the count of how many crimes law enforcement agencies report.  These details may include the type of weapon used in a crime, type or value of items stolen, and so forth.  In addition, expanded data include trends (for example, 2-year comparisons) and rates per 100,000 inhabitants.

Expanded information regarding larceny-theft is available in the following tables:

Trends (2-year):  Tables 12, 13, and 14

Rates (per 100,000 inhabitants):  Tables 16, 17, and 18

Offense Analysis:  Table 23

Larceny-theft Table, “Larceny-theft, Percent Distribution by Region, 2011”

Larceny-theft figure

What you won’t find on this page

  • Statistics about embezzlement, confidence games, forgery, check fraud, etc.
  • Clearance and arrest data for larceny-theft.