Wisconsin Criminal Statutes – Layman’s Guide

943.20 – Theft

• Statute Title: Theft

• Legal Definition (WI Statutes): "Whoever intentionally takes and carries away, uses, transfers, conceals, or retains possession of movable property of another without the other's consent and with intent to deprive the owner permanently of possession."

• Layman’s Terms: Taking something that belongs to someone else without permission, and not planning to return it.

• Examples:

  1. Someone steals a phone left on a restaurant table by slipping it into their pocket when no one is looking, intending to sell it later.

  2. A person walks out of a hardware store with a power tool hidden under their coat, planning to keep it without paying.

• Penalties (based on value):

  • Under $2,500: Class A Misdemeanor – up to 9 months jail, $10,000 fine

  • $2,500–$5,000: Class I Felony – up to 3.5 years prison

  • $5,000–$10,000: Class H Felony – up to 6 years prison

  • Over $10,000: Class G Felony – up to 10 years prison