Overview

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  Iowa law defines theft in a manner that reaches beyond taking a physical item from a person or store, and all of these scenarios carry similar penalties. Iowa can consider you guilty of theft for receiving services or goods that you fail to pay for, refusing to return property that does not belong to you, passing a bad check to receive goods or services, and stealing cable or utilities. Iowa bases its penalties on the monetary value of the stolen property.
  
  

$100 and Under

• If you steal something in Iowa that has a value of $100 or less, you have committed a simple misdemeanor. This can result in a fine up to $500, with a minimum fine of at least $50, and up to 30 days in jail
  
  

Over $100 and up to $500

• Iowa law considers the theft of goods over $100 but not more than $500 a serious misdemeanor. This can result in a jail term up to 12 months and a fine up to $1,500, with a minimum fine of $250.
  
  

Third-Degree Theft

• Third-degree theft is an aggravated misdemeanor and can carry a fine up to $5,000, with a $500 minimum. The court can impose a sentence of up to two years—you will serve your time in jail for sentences of one year or less, while a sentence exceeding one year will result in incarceration in a state prison.
  
  A third-degree theft conviction can result from stealing goods valued over $500 and up to $1,000, or having two previous convictions for theft of goods up to $500.
  
  

Second-Degree Theft

• Iowa law considers second-degree theft a Class D felony, which carries a prison term up to five years and a minimum fine of $750, with a possible fine up to $7,500. You can face conviction of second-degree theft if the value of stolen goods is over $1,000 and but not more than $10,000, or if you steal any vehicle valued at $10,000 or less.
  
  

First-Degree Theft

• First-degree theft is a Class C felony—up to 10 years in prison and fine of at least $1,000 and up to $10,000. You can face Class C felony theft charges if you take any goods valued over $10,000, take something directly from somebody else, or take goods from a building unoccupied or destroyed because of riot, natural disaster and the like.