Property Crimes

There are a number of property crimes in Virginia involving the unauthorized presence on property, destruction of property, arson, and theft of property.

Trespass

property crimes in VirginiaTrespassing in Virginia (Va. Code §182-119) is entering another person’s land without permission or remaining on another person’s land after being told to leave.  There are a number of other property crimes in Virginia that criminalize trespassing on specific places and with certain criminal intent:

  • Schools
    • Trespassing on a school or school bus at night (Va. Code §18.2-128(A))
    • Unlawfully remaining on school property after being told to leave or in violation of posted notice (Va. Code §18.2-128(B))
  • Churches
    • Trespassing on church property (Va. Code §18.2-128(A))
    • Unlawfully remaining on church property after being told to leave or in violation of “No Trespassing” signs (Va. Code §18.2-128(B))
    •  Willfully blocking a church entrance or exit (Va. Code §18.2-127(C))
  • Cemeteries
    • Trespassing on a cemetery at night (Va. Code §18.2-125)
    • Willfully blocking a cemetery entrance or exit (Va. Code §18.2-127(A)(3))
  • Shining Spotlight on Property
    • Intentional use of a spotlight on private property used for livestock or crops (Va. Code §18.2-121.2)
    • Shining spotlight on poultry house (Va. Code §18.2-509)
    • Shining spotlight on deer from vehicle while armed (Va. Code §29.1-525.A)
    • Intentionally shining a spotlight on a place used by deer on another person’s property from a vehicle (Va. Code §29.1-525(B))
  • Public Transportationtrespassing-on-a-railroad-is-one-of-many-property-crimes-in-virginia
    • Trespassing on a train (Va. Code §18.2-160)
    • Trespassing on another public transportation service (Va. Code §18.2-160.2)
    • Failing to pay train fare (Va. Code §18.2-160.1(A))
    • Using fraudulent or counterfeit train ticket (Va. Code §18.2-160.1(C))
    • Trespassing on a railroad (Va. Code §18.2-159)
    • Intentionally bringing an animal onto a railroad track to recover damages (Va. Code §18.2-158)
  • Hunting
    • Hunting without a permit (Va. Code §10.1-1157)
    • Entering another person’s land to hunt without permission (Va. Code §18.2-132)
    • Entering another person’s land to hunt in violation of “No Trespassing” signs (Va. Code §18.2-134)
    • Failing to identity self to landowner after trespassing to hunt or fish (Va. Code §18.2-133)
    • Tampering with signs prohibiting hunting or fishing on another person’s land (Va. Code §18.2-135)
    • Trespassing on a private shooting preserve (Va. Code §18.2-131)
  • Trespassing to Commit Certain Acts
    • Entering another person’s land and peeping or attempting to peep into a home (Va. Code §18.2-130.A)
    • Entering another person’s land with intent to damage property or interfere with the owner’s use of the property (Va. Code §18.2-121)
  • Other Trespassing Crimes
    • Conspiracy to trespass (Va. Code §18.2-23)
    • Encouraging or soliciting a trespass (Va. Code §18.2-120)
    • Disorderly trespass
    • Unauthorized use of public property (Va. Code §15.2-2018) and (§15.2-2107)
    • Unreasonably obstructing the free passage of others after being requested to stop (Va. Code §18.2-404)
    • Picketing or assembling at a dwelling house in a disruptive manner (Va. Code §18.2-419)
    • Entering property that has been padlocked for failing to pay taxes (Va. Code §58.1-1805.C)
    • Unauthorized posting of “No Trespassing” signs (Va. Code §18.2-119.1)
    • Allowing an animal under quarantine to run at large under (Va. Code §18.2-121.1)

For more information on property crimes in Virginia involving trespass, click here.

Vandalism and Destruction of Property Crimes in Virginia

  • destruction-of-property-in-virginia-can-be-puished-with-a-fine-or-jail-timeDestruction of Property crimes in Virginia include:
    • Unlawful Destruction of Property (Va. Code §18.2-137(A))
    • Intentional Destruction of Property worth less than $1000 (Va. Code §18.2-137(B))
    • Intentional Destruction of Property worth more than $1000 (Va. Code §18.2-137(B))
  • Destruction of Public Property crimes in Virginia include:
    • Destruction of a public building (Va. Code §18.2-138)
    • Destruction of public documents (Va. Code §18.2-138)
    • Damaging a book or other library property (Va. Code §18.2-138) and (Va. Code §42.1-72)
    • Destruction of a tree or fence on the grounds of the Capitol or public square (Va. Code §18.2-139) 
  • Destruction of Church or Cemetery Property crimes in Virginia include:
    • Malicious destruction of church property (Va. Code §18.2-127) 
    • Destruction of plants or flowers on church or cemetery property (Va. Code §18.2-127(A)(1,) (2))
    • Destruction of a tomb or gravestone or other structure from a cemetery Va. Code §18.2-127(B)
    • Intentionally blocking the entrance or exit of a church or cemetery (Va. Code §18.2-127(A)(3))
    • Destruction or removal of an object or structure on church property (Va. Code §18.2-127(B)).  
  • Property crimes in Virginia involving Vehicle Tampering include:
    • tampering-with-a-vehicle-can-be-punished-with-jail-timeIntentionally damaging a vehicle, aircraft, or boat or interfering with the vehicle’s operation (Va. Code §18.2-146)
    • Entering a vehicle or setting a vehicle in motion to commit a crime (Va. Code §18.2-147)
    • Intentionally destroying a rented vehicle (Va. Code §18.2-149)
    • Tampering with another person’s vehicle that is engaged in commerce on the highway (Va. Code §46.2-818(3))
    • Possessing or using tire puncturing devices Va. Code (§18.2-147.2)  
  • Tampering with Railroads, Trains, and Other Transportation:
    • Destruction of a fence or cattle stop on a railroad line (Va. Code §18.2-157)
    • Tampering with a railroad signal (Va. Code §18.2-155)
    • Removal or waste or packing from a vehicle operated on a railroad (Va. Code §18.2-156)
    • Breaking the lock on a railroad car, aircraft, other vehicle or pipeline system containing property (Va. Code §18.2-147.1)
    • Destruction of a canal, railroad or electric lines (Va. Code §18.2-153)
    • Tampering with machinery, cars or wires of a canal, railroad, or electric lines, or tampering with a switch or signal (Va. Code §18.2-153)
    • Tampering with or unintentionally damaging a buoy deacon or day mark and failing to report the damage (Va. Code §62.1-187)
    • Intentionally casting away or destroying watercraft with intent to injure or defraud (Va. Code §18.2-150)
    • Tampering with airplanes, flying devices and airport landing field or drop zone signals (Va. Code §5.1-16).
  • Tampering with Utilities
    • tampering-with-a-fire-hydrant-is-a-crime-in-virginiaTampering with cable television lines (Va. Code §18.2-165.1)
    • Tampering with TV and radio signals and equipment (Va. Code§18.2-165)
    • Tampering with public utilities (Va. Code §18.2-162)
    • Tampering with a metering device (Va. Code §18.2-163)
    • Tampering with telephone lines (Va. Code §18.2-164)
    • Tampering with a fire hydrant (Va. Code §18.2-162.1)
    • Intentionally damaging facilities that provide public utilities (Va. Code §18.2-162)
    • Tampering with street signs and traffic control signals under (Va. Code §46.2-832)
  • Destruction of Property on Another Person’s Land:
    • Destroying trees on another persons land (Va. Code §18.2-140)
    • Taking down “No Hunting” signs without permission (Va. Code §18.2-135)
    • Pulling down a fence without permission on another persons land or opening and leaving open a gate on another person’s land, across a public road, or at a railway crossing  (Va. Code §18.2-143)
  • Destruction of Property Crimes in Virginia involving Caves:
    • Vandalizing a cave (Va. Code §10.1-1004)
    • Dumping garbage or dead animals in a cave or sinkhole without permission (Va. Code §10.1-1005)
    • Burning a material in a cave that produces a gas harmful to organisms in the cave (Va. Code §10.1-1005)
    • Unauthorized excavation of a cave (Va. Code §10.1-1003)
    • Removing or harming cave organisms (Va. Code §10.1-1006) 
    • Removing and selling or exporting stalactites or stalagmites (Va. Code §10.1-1007)
  • Tampering with Emergency Equipment
    • Tampering with firefighting equipment (Va. Code §18.2-151.1(i))
    • Tampering with an emergency medical services vehicle is a misdemeanor to prevent useful operation (Va. Code §18.2-151.1(ii))
  • Other Destruction of Property Crimes in Virginia
    • Destruction of military property (Va. Code §44-109)
    • Destruction of property of the Institute of Marine Science (Va. Code §28.2-1102)
    • Intentional destruction of an antiquity in Virginia (Va. Code §10.1-2306)
    • Tampering with a facility involved with infectious biological substances (Va. Codetampering-with-a-parking-meter-is-a-crime-in-virginia §18.2-52.1)
    • Tampering with a farm product used for research purposes (Va. Code §18.2-145.1)
    • Releasing research animals with the intent to obstruct a lawful purpose (Va. Code §18.2-403.4)
    • Hunting on another person’s property while carrying a tool used to destroy trees without permission (Va. Code §18.2-141)
    • Conducting archaeological activities without a permit (Va. Code §10.1-2302)
    • Tampering with a parking meter, pay phone or vending machine with intent to steal (Va. Code §18.2-152)
Click here for more information on vandalism charges in Virginia.
For more information on destruction of property crimes in Virginia, click here.


Arson

Virginia arson charges criminalize the intentional burning or bombing of a structure or property.  Va. Code §18.2-77 prohibits maliciously burning or destroying a dwelling house by fire or explosive.  It is punished with 5 years up to life in prison and a fine up to $100,000 if the dwelling was occupied at the time of the burning.  If it was not occupied, it is a Class 4 felony, punished with 2-10 years in prison and a fine up to $100,000.  Anyone who  aids or assists in the burning or destroying of a dwelling house is punished as if he committed the arson himself (Va. Code §18.2-77(ii)).

There are a number of property crimes in Virginia that criminalize burning of other structures in Virginia, including the malicious burning or destruction of a meeting house (Va. Code §18.2-79) and the malicious burning or destruction of another structure not included in the other arson statuarson-in-virginia-can-be-punished-with-up-to-life-in-prisontes (Va. Code §18.2-80).

Other property crimes in Virginia related to burning and destruction of property include maliciously setting fire to anything capable of spreading fire on land (Va.Code §18.2-86), malicious burning or destruction of personal property (Va. Code §18.2-81), carelessly damaging property by fire (Va.Code §18.2-88), allowing a fire to escape on to another person’s land (Va.Code §18.2-87), setting off a chemical bomb in public (Va. Code §18.2-87.1), possession of a bomb or bomb making material (Va. Code §18.2-85), making bomb threats (Va. Code §18.2-83), and any arson that is committed during the attempted commission of a felony (Va. Code §18.2-82).

For more information on arson charges in Virginia, click here.

Theft Crimes

There are a number of property crimes in Virginia involving theft.  Larceny is Virginia’s basic theft crime, and there are also a lot of theft offenses that are deemed larceny and punished the same way.

Larceny

Larceny in Virginia is the wrongful taking of another person’s property intending to permanently deprive the owner of his property.  A Virginia larceny charge can be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the value of the property taken.  Petty larceny is theft of property worth less than $200.  Petty larceny is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punished with up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2500.  Grand larceny is theft of property worth more than $200 or theft of a firearm, regardless of the value.  Grand Larceny is a Class 6 felony punished with up to 5 years in prison.

Virginia also has enhanced penalties for anyone convicted of multiple larceny offenses or offenses “deemed” larceny under Va. Code §18.2-104.  A second offense is punished with a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail.  A third offense is a felony, regardless of the item’s value.

For more information on larceny and related property crimes in Virginia, click here.

Shoplifting

Shoplifting in Virginia is a form of larceny and occurs by concealing or taking possession of goods, altering the price tag on a store item, or transferring goods from one container to another with intent to permanently deprive the owner of his property.  Shoplifting is punished as petty larceny if the value of the goods was under $200.  It is punished as grand larceny if the value of the goods was over $200.  A second offense is punished with a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail, and a third offense is a felony.  An offender can be charged with a second or third offense if he has any combination of shoplifting convictions or convictions for any offense “deemed” larceny.

For more information on shoplifting in Virginia, click here.

Credit Card Crimes

There are a number of different property crimes in Virginia related to the theft or misuse of credit cards:

  • credit-card-crimes-in-virginia-are-punished-with-high-fines-and-prisonCredit Card Theft (Va. Code §18.2-192) occurs by taking a credit card without consent, knowingly receiving a stolen credit card, knowingly receiving a lost or mis-delivered card, a non-issuer selling a credit card, buying a credit card from a non-issuer, or receiving more than 2 signed credit cards issued to 2 or more people in a 12 month period.  Click here for more information on property crimes in Virginia related to credit card theft.
  • Credit Card Fraud (Va.  Code §18.2-195) is knowingly using a stolen or lost credit card to obtain something of value with an intent to defraud.   It is also a crime to knowingly receive goods and services obtained by credit card fraud under Va. Code §18.2-197.  For more information on property crimes in Virginia related to credit card fraud, click here.
  • Credit Card Forgery (Va. Code §18.2-193) includes making a fake credit cards, altering a pre-existing credit card, false embossing of a credit card, uttering a false credit card, signing another person’s credit card without consent, forging a sales draft or withdrawal  a slip, and uttering a forged sales draft or withdrawal slip.  For more information on property crimes in Virginia involving credit card forgery, click here.
  • Other property crimes in Virginia involving credit cards include knowingly making a false statement on a credit card application (Va. Code §18.2-195.2), failing to pay for value received by using a credit card that was obtained as a result of a fraudulent application (Va. Code §18.2-195.2(B)) possession of credit card forgery devices or more than 2 incomplete credit cards with intent to complete without the issuer’s consent (Va. Code §18.2-196), unlawful use of credit card scanning devices (Va. Code §18.2-196.1(A)), and presenting a false credit card transaction to a credit card issuer with an intent to defraud (Va. Code §18.2-195.1).

For more information on property crimes in Virginia involving credit cards, click here.

Check Offenses

issuing-bad-checks-in-virginia-is-considered-a-theft-crime-and-a-property-crimeIssuing bad checks (Va. Code §18.2-181) is making, drawing, uttering or delivering a check with intent to defraud.   Issuing a bad check in Virginia is considered larceny and is punished the same way.    It is a misdemeanor if the value represented by the check was less than $200.  A second offense is punished with a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail and up to 12 months in jail.  A third offense is a felony punished with up to 5 years in prison.  An offender can be charged with a third or subsequent offense if he has any combination of prior check offenses or offenses deemed larceny in Virginia.  If the value represented by the check was more than $200, the offense carries up to 20 years in prison.  

For more information on check crimes in Virginia, click here.

Embezzlement

An offender can be charged with embezzlement in Virginia (Va. Code §18.2-111) if he wrongfully takes money or property that was entrusted to him.  Embezzlement usually occurs in the course of an employment or other fiduciary relationship.  Embezzlement is punished the same way as larceny charges in Virginia.   Embezzlement of goods or money less than $200 is a Class 1 misdemeanor.  A second offense is punished with a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail and up to 12 months in jail.  A third offense is a felony, punished with up to 5 years in prison.  If the value of the goods embezzled is more than $200, the offense is punished as grand larceny under Va. Code §18.2-95. 

For more information on embezzlement charges in Virginia, click here.

Unauthorized Use

Unauthorized use in Virginia under Va. Code §18.2-102 is taking another person’s property with intent to temporarily deprive the owner of is property.  Unauthorized Use charges in Virginia apply to vehicles, aircraft, boats, vessels and animals.  If the property was worth less than $200, the unauthorized use charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor.  If the property was worth more than $200, the offense is a felony punished with up to 5 years in prison.  For more information on unauthorized use charges in Virginia, click here.

Robbery

using-a-firearm-during-a-robbery-adds-mandatory-prison-timeA robbery in Virginia (Va. Code §18.2-58) occurs when an offender takes property from another person by force or intimidation.  Using a firearm in the course of the robbery adds a mandatory minimum prison sentence served consecutively to any punishment for the robbery.  For more information on robbery charges in Virginia, click here.  

Burglary

Burglary in Virginia (Va. Code §18.2-89) is the breaking and entering the dwelling house of another at night with the intent to commit a larceny or felony.  If the offender used a deadly weapon in committing the burglary, it is punished with up to life in prison. 

There are also a number of other breaking and entering crimes in Virginia that criminalize felonious entry into other structures, unauthorized entry during the day, entering and hiding, or entering to commit certain crimes, including: Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit Rape, Robbery, Murder, Arson (Va. Code §18.2-90), Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit Larceny, Assault and Battery, or Other Felony (Va. Code §18.2-91), Breaking and Entering Dwelling House with Intent to Commit Misdemeanor (Va. Code §18.2-92), and Bank Burglary (Va. Code §18.2-93).

For more information on burglary and breaking and entering charges in Virginia, click here.