Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against rights of property - Unlawful taking

223: Punishment of theft

You could also call this:

“This law explains how long you can go to jail for stealing things, depending on how much the stolen stuff is worth.”

If you commit theft, you can be punished with time in prison. How long you might go to prison depends on what you stole and how much it’s worth.

If you steal something that’s worth more than $1,000, you could go to prison for up to 7 years.

If you steal something that’s worth between $500 and $1,000, you could go to prison for up to 1 year.

If you steal something that’s worth less than $500, you could go to prison for up to 3 months.

There’s also a special rule in section 220 of this law. If you break that rule, you could go to prison for up to 7 years, no matter how much the stolen thing is worth.

Remember, these are the maximum punishments. The actual punishment might be less, depending on the specific situation.

This law doesn’t apply to a special kind of theft described in section 220A. That kind of theft has its own rules.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM330209.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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“Taking things from your husband, wife, or partner can still be stealing.”

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224: Power of search for goods stolen or unlawfully obtained in transit, or

“Police could look for stolen things while they were being moved around, but this rule doesn't exist anymore.”

Part 10 Crimes against rights of property
Unlawful taking

223Punishment of theft

  1. Every one who commits theft (except under section 220A) is liable as follows:

  2. in the case of any offence against section 220, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years; or
    1. if the value of the property stolen exceeds $1,000, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years; or
      1. if the value of the property stolen exceeds $500 but does not exceed $1,000, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year; or
        1. if the value of the property stolen does not exceed $500, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months.

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          Notes
          • Section 223: replaced, on , by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).
          • Section 223: amended, on , by section 11 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 4).