The Theft Ladder
Wis. Stat. 943.20 — a Class A misdemeanor up to $2,500, a felony above it
Theft in Wisconsin includes intentionally taking, using, concealing or keeping someone else's movable property without consent intending to deprive the owner permanently, and getting title to property by a false representation known to be false. It also covers intentionally not returning personal property held under a written lease after the lease expires, though returning it, other than a motor vehicle, within 10 days after expiry is outside that.
| Value | Offense |
|---|---|
| ValueNot over $2,500 | OffenseClass A misdemeanor |
| ValueOver $2,500, not over $5,000 | OffenseClass I felony |
| ValueOver $5,000, not over $10,000 | OffenseClass H felony |
| ValueOver $10,000, not over $100,000 | OffenseClass G felony |
| ValueOver $100,000 | OffenseClass F felony |
Whatever the value. Theft of a firearm or a domestic animal, or from a building left unoccupied after a disaster or riot, is a Class H felony. Taking property from another person's body is a Class G felony.
A prior theft or retail theft conviction lets a misdemeanor theft be charged as a Class I felony, and a felony theft one class higher. Value is market value or the cost of replacing the property, whichever is less, and thefts in one course of conduct may be added together.
Sources for this section (1)
- Wis. Stat. 943.20 — Theft
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.