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, thefts of 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 2015, there were an estimated 5,706,346 larceny-thefts nationwide. The number of larceny-thefts declined 1.8 percent when compared with the 2014 estimate. The number decreased 7.2 percent when compared with the 2011 estimate, and it declined 13.9 percent when compared with the 2006 estimate.
- The rate of estimated larceny-thefts in 2015 was 1,775.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. From 2014 to 2015, the rate of estimated larceny-thefts declined 2.5 percent, and from 2006 to 2015, the rate decreased 19.8 percent. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
- Larceny-thefts accounted for an estimated 71.4 percent of property crimes in 2014. (Based on Table 1.)
- The average value of property taken during larceny-thefts was $929 per offense. When the average value is applied to the estimated number of larceny-thefts, the loss to victims nationally was an estimated $5.3 billion. (Based on Tables 1 and 23.)
- Thefts from motor vehicles accounted for 24.0 percent of all larceny-thefts in 2015. (See Table 23.)
Expanded 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:
- Offense Analysis: Table 23
- Larceny-theft Table, “Larceny-theft, Percent Distribution by Region, 2015”
