--- title: "PC 487 - Grand theft (over $950)" description: "California PC 487 defines grand theft as property theft over $950. Learn the thresholds, penalties, and common defenses." url: "https://www.thehfirm.com/penal-codes/pc-487-grand-theft-over-950" site: "H Law Group" --- # PC 487 - Grand theft (over $950) California PC 487 defines grand theft as property theft over $950. Learn the thresholds, penalties, and common defenses. Topics: Theft, Penal Code ## **California Penal Code 487: Grand Theft** Grand theft is the felony-eligible sibling of petty theft, and California draws the line mostly around a dollar figure. But money isn't the only path to a grand theft charge. Some property triggers grand theft no matter what it's worth. ## **What the Law Says** The core threshold in Penal Code 487 is straightforward: > When the money, labor, real property, or personal property taken is of a value exceeding nine hundred fifty dollars ($950)... ...the theft is grand theft. The statute also sets out several categories where a lower threshold or no threshold at all applies: - Certain agricultural products, including domestic fowls, avocados, olives, and citrus or deciduous fruits, when the value exceeds $250 - Fish, shellfish, and similar aquatic products taken from commercial operations, when the value exceeds $250 - Property taken by an employee from an employer, when the value aggregates to more than $950 across a 12-month period - Automobiles and firearms, which qualify as grand theft regardless of their value - Property taken directly from another person's possession Effective January 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 2943 amended PC 487 to clarify that the value of property taken across multiple related acts, including acts against different victims or in different counties, can be aggregated to support a single grand theft charge, so long as the acts are substantially similar, generally occur within a 90-day period, and are motivated by one intention, one general impulse, and one plan. ## **Elements Prosecutors Must Prove** - The defendant took property that belonged to someone else, without their consent - The defendant intended to permanently deprive the owner of the property, or to remove it for long enough to deprive the owner of a major portion of its value or enjoyment - The property's value, category, or the manner it was taken meets one of the statute's grand theft triggers, such as the $950 threshold, a firearm or automobile, or direct taking from a person ## **Penalties** Penal Code 489 sets three different punishment tracks depending on what was stolen: - **Firearm theft: **a straight felony, punishable by 16 months, two years, or three years in state prison, with no misdemeanor option - **Animal theft under Penal Code 487a: **up to one year in county jail or an alternative sentence, plus a fine of up to $5,000 - **All other grand theft: **a wobbler, punishable by up to one year in county jail as a misdemeanor, or by imprisonment under Penal Code 1170(h), typically 16 months, two years, or three years, if charged as a felony ## **Common Defenses** - Disputing the value of the property, since property valued at $950 or less generally falls under petty theft instead of grand theft - A good-faith claim of right to the property - Lack of intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property - Mistaken identity or insufficient evidence connecting the defendant to the taking - Consent from the owner ## **Related Offenses** - [**Petty Theft**](/penal-codes/pc-484-488-petty-theft)[ - Penal Code Sections 484 and 488, the misdemeanor counterpart below the $950 threshold](/penal-codes/pc-484-488-petty-theft) - [**Robbery**](/penal-codes/pc-211-robbery-elements-penalties-defenses)[ - Penal Code Section 211, which applies when the taking involves force or fear](/penal-codes/pc-211-robbery-elements-penalties-defenses) - [**Receiving Stolen Property**](/penal-codes/pc-496-receiving-stolen-property)[ - Penal Code Section 496](/penal-codes/pc-496-receiving-stolen-property) ## **Frequently Asked Questions** ### What is the dollar threshold for grand theft in California? Property valued at more than $950 generally qualifies as grand theft under Penal Code 487. This threshold was set by Proposition 47 in 2014 and remains current. ### Is grand theft always a felony? No. Most grand theft is a wobbler that can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. The main exception is firearm theft, which Penal Code 489 makes a straight felony with no misdemeanor option. ### Can several small thefts be combined into one grand theft charge? Yes. Under the 2025 amendment to PC 487, prosecutors can aggregate the value of multiple related acts, including thefts against different victims or in different counties, into a single grand theft charge if the acts happened within roughly a 90-day period and were part of one overall plan. ### Does stealing a car always count as grand theft? Yes. Automobile theft is grand theft under PC 487 regardless of the vehicle's value. Vehicle theft can also be charged under other statutes, such as Vehicle Code 10851, depending on the facts. A [grand theft charge under Penal Code 487](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=487.&lawCode=PEN) carries real felony exposure, and the dollar value, property type, and aggregation rules all affect how the case is charged. This is general information, not legal advice for any specific situation, and anyone facing a grand theft charge should speak with a criminal defense attorney about the facts of their case. ## Related California penal codes - [PC 484 / 488 - Petty Theft](https://www.thehfirm.com/penal-codes/pc-484-488-petty-theft) - [PC 211 - Robbery](https://www.thehfirm.com/penal-codes/pc-211-robbery) - [PC 496 - Receiving Stolen Property](https://www.thehfirm.com/penal-codes/pc-496-receiving-stolen-property) --- ## Contact H Law Group - Phone: (888) 499-4948 (phones answered 24/7) - Email: info@thehlawgroup.com - Free consultation: https://www.thehfirm.com/free-consultation - Contact form: https://www.thehfirm.com/contact-us ### Offices - Los Angeles Branch: 714 W Olympic Blvd Ste, 803, Los Angeles, CA 90015 -- (213) 985-4431 - San Diego Branch: 600 W Broadway, Suite 700, San Diego, CA 92101 -- (619) 716-0968 - San Jose Branch: 333 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95110 -- (408) 869-6572 - Orange County Branch: 2030 Main St, # 1300, Irvine, CA 92614 -- (949) 832-8057 - Riverside County Office: 41593 Winchester Rd, Suite 200, Temecula, CA 92590 -- (951) 418-3576 - Santa Barbara Branch: 1117 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 -- (888) 499-4948 ### Disclaimer This website provides general legal information only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice about your specific situation, contact H Law Group directly.