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Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation

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 2012, there were an estimated 6,150,598 larceny-thefts nationwide. The number of larceny-thefts remained virtually the same when compared with the 2011 estimate, but dropped 6.6 percent when compared with the 2008 estimate, and declined 12.5 percent when compared with the 2003 estimate.
  • The rate of estimated larceny-thefts in 2012 was 1,959.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. From 2011 to 2012, the rate of estimated larceny-thefts declined 0.7 percent, and from 2003 to 2012, the rate decreased 18.9 percent. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
  • Larceny-thefts accounted for an estimated 68.5 percent of property crimes in 2012. (Based on Table 1.)
  • The average value of property taken during larceny-thefts was $987 per offense. When the average value is applied to the estimated number of larceny-thefts, the loss to victims nationally was more than $6 billion. (Based on Tables 1 and 23.)
  • Twenty-four percent of larceny-thefts were thefts from motor vehicles. (See 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, 2012”

2012 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.