Grand theft refers to certain types of larceny which involve the unlawful taking of tangible or intangible property with a fair market value of $950 or more. When referring to general theft, the term grand theft is often used to refer to theft of items that are highly valuable or items with a high financial cost.
Grand theft is a felony offense in most states, and can carry a prison sentence of up to 3 years. The consequence for the crime depends on the severity and value of the items stolen, as well as the jurisdiction, the facts of the case, and other factors. Common forms of grand theft include burglary, auto theft, shoplifting, and stealing valuable items such as jewelry.
Grand Theft Examples in the 21st Century
Grand theft is a highly prevalent crime in the 21st century, with modern examples ranging from shoplifting and stealing luxurious items for tangible items to cybercrime and hacking of data from major companies.
For example, the theft of $45 million worth of cryptocurrency by hackers in 2019 from Cryptopia Limited is an example of grand theft. Another example is the theft of intellectual property from large companies with high financial value, which is often done by means of cyber attacks.
Furthermore, theft of money from corporate accounts using various malicious activities, as well as fraud and embezzlement, are all common forms of grand theft in the 21st century.