Theft offences

The definitive guidelines on theft offences were issued on 6 October 2015 and came into force on 1 February 2016. The following offences are covered by the guidelines:

• General theft, including:
  • Theft from the person
  • Theft in a dwelling
  • Theft in breach of trust
  • Theft from a motor vehicle
  • Theft of a motor vehicle
  • Theft of a pedal bicycle
  • All other s1 Theft Act 1968 offences, excluding theft from a shop or stall
• Theft from a shop or stall
• Handling stolen goods
• Going equipped for theft and burglary
• Abstracting electricity
• Making off without payment

The consultation on the draft guidelines for theft offences was open from 3 April to 26 June 2014. There were 92 responses.

The table below sets out some examples of changes made to the guidelines following our consultation. This “We asked, you said…” format suits some examples better than others and it would not be possible to represent some of the more complex points in this format. For a full and detailed explanation of the consultation process, please read the consultation response document.

Related documents

To support the guidelines and consultations, the Council also publishes a range of documents. These documents may include consultation responses, statistical bulletins, resource and equality impact assessments and guideline assessments.

Related documents: Theft offences

Archived

Previous archived versions of guidelines can be found below:

• Sentencing Guidelines Council: Theft and burglary in a building other than a dwelling
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Electricity, abstract/use without authority (pages 56-57)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Going equipped, for theft (page 63)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Handling stolen goods (pages 66-67)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Making off without payment (page 78-79)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Theft, breach of trust (pages 100-100a)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Theft, dwelling (pages 101-101a)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Theft, general principles (page 99)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Theft, person (pages 102-102a)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Theft, shop (pages 103-103a)