# D.C. Code § 22-3211: Theft

> District of Columbia · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3211

## Section

- **Citation:** D.C. Code § 22-3211
- **Heading:** Theft
- **Jurisdiction:** District of Columbia
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DC Code / Title 22 / Chapter 32 / § 22-3211

## Text

(a) For the purpose of this section, the term “wrongfully obtains or uses” means: (1) taking or exercising control over property; (2) making an unauthorized use, disposition, or transfer of an interest in or possession of property; or (3) obtaining property by trick, false pretense, false token, tampering, or deception. The term “wrongfully obtains or uses” includes conduct previously known as larceny, larceny by trick, larceny by trust, embezzlement, and false pretenses.
(b) A person commits the offense of theft if that person wrongfully obtains or uses the property of another with intent:
(1) To deprive the other of a right to the property or a benefit of the property; or
(2) To appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of a third person.
(c) In cases in which the theft of property is in the form of services, proof that a person obtained services that he or she knew or had reason to believe were available to him or her only for compensation and that he or she departed from the place where the services were obtained knowing or having reason to believe that no payment had been made for the services rendered in circumstances where payment is ordinarily made immediately upon the rendering of the services or prior to departure from the place where the services are obtained, shall be prima facie evidence that the person had committed the offense of theft.
(d) A violation of § 35-252 shall not constitute a violation of this section.

## Nearby sections

- [D.C. Code § 22-3201 § 22-3201. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3201.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3202 § 22-3202. Aggregation of amounts received to determine grade of offense.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3202.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3203 § 22-3203. Consecutive sentences.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3203.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3204 § 22-3204. Case referral.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3204.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3211 § 22-3211. Theft.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3211.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3211.01 § 22-3211.01. Directing organized retail theft.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3211.01.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3212 § 22-3212. Penalties for theft.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3212.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3213 § 22-3213. Shoplifting.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3213.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3214 § 22-3214. Commercial piracy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3214.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3214.01 § 22-3214.01. Deceptive labeling.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3214.01.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3214.02 § 22-3214.02. Unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture theater.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3214.02.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3215 § 22-3215. Unauthorized use of motor vehicles.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3215.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3216 § 22-3216. Taking property without right.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3216.md)
- [D.C. Code § 22-3218.01 § 22-3218.01. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3218.01.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T22_C32_S22-3211. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.