- Legal Basis
- § 242 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment up to five years or fine
- Summary
- Taking away movable property belonging to another person with intent to unlawfully appropriate it
Theft under Section 242 of the German Criminal Code – Overview
Theft is the classic property offence and one of the most frequently prosecuted criminal offences in Germany. Section 242 StGB protects ownership and possession of movable property. The provision also serves as the basis for aggravated forms such as theft in especially serious cases (Section 243 StGB) and residential burglary (Section 244 StGB).
Statutory Text (Section 242 StGB – Excerpt)
Subsection 1: Whoever takes away movable property belonging to another person with the intent to unlawfully appropriate the property for themselves or a third party shall be liable to imprisonment of up to five years or a fine.
Subsection 2: The attempt is punishable.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Movable Property Belonging to Another
The object of the offence is movable property belonging to another – any physical object not solely owned by the perpetrator that can be moved. Even low-value items are covered.
Taking Away
Taking away means breaking the existing custody (Gewahrsam) and establishing new custody. Custody is actual control over the item, supported by the natural will to exercise such control. The decisive moment is when the perpetrator removes the item from the sphere of control of the previous custodian.
Intent to Appropriate
The perpetrator must intend to unlawfully appropriate the property for themselves or a third party. This encompasses the will to permanently dispossess the entitled person and to at least temporarily appropriate the item. Mere intent to use (furtum usus) is insufficient.
Unlawfulness of Appropriation
The intended appropriation must be unlawful – the perpetrator must not have a due and enforceable claim to the property.
Typical Methods of Commission
The most common forms include: shoplifting (most frequent form), pickpocketing, bicycle theft, theft from motor vehicles, workplace theft (to be distinguished from embezzlement), vending machine break-ins, and organised gang theft.
Sentencing Range
Simple theft carries imprisonment of up to five years or a fine. For low-value items, proceedings may frequently be discontinued under Sections 153 or 153a StPO. Especially serious cases (Section 243 StGB) carry imprisonment from three months to ten years. Residential burglary (Section 244(4) StGB) carries a minimum sentence of one year’s imprisonment.
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence against theft charges addresses various points: challenging the taking away (no breaking of existing custody), challenging the intent to appropriate (mere temporary use), asserting a claim to the property (no unlawfulness of appropriation), exclusion of evidence from unlawful searches, negotiating discontinuation of proceedings for low-value items or first-time offenders, and compensation for damage to mitigate sentencing.
Typical case groups in theft (§ 242 StGB)
Whether shoplifting, taking from the till at work or among friends – the range is wide, and the defence starts at a different point each time. For low values a discontinuation is often realistic; for aggravated examples, severe penalties loom.
Shoplifting and items of low value
Classic shoplifting often concerns items of low value within the meaning of § 248a StGB. Here the offence is prosecuted only on application or where there is a special public interest, and a discontinuation under §§ 153, 153a StPO – possibly against a monetary condition – is possible, especially for first offenders.
Theft at the workplace
Allegations against employees weigh heavily, because beyond the penalty a summary dismissal and employment-law consequences loom. Coordinating criminal defence and the employment-law situation is decisive here.
Aggravated case and residential burglary
Standard examples under § 243 StGB and residential burglary under § 244 StGB raise the sentencing range considerably. The defence examines the evidence, attribution among several participants and possible mitigations.
Penalty order or summons for theft
Many proceedings begin with a summons or end with a penalty order. Before you sign or make a statement, seek legal advice – an objection to the penalty order is possible within two weeks.
Note: This information is general and does not replace advice in an individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wann ist Theft nur auf Strafantrag verfolgbar?
Bei geringwertigen Sachen (§ 248a StGB) sowie beim Haus- und Familiendiebstahl (§ 247 StGB) wird der Theft nur auf Strafantrag verfolgt. Fehlt dieser und besteht kein besonderes öffentliches Interesse, ist eine Verfolgung nicht möglich.
Was bedeuten Gewahrsamsbruch und Zueignungsabsicht?
§ 242 StGB verlangt die Wegnahme, also den Bruch fremden und die Begründung neuen Gewahrsams, sowie die Absicht rechtswidriger Zueignung. Fehlt es an der Vollendung der Wegnahme oder an der Zueignungsabsicht, kommt allenfalls Versuch oder Straflosigkeit in Betracht. Beim Ladendiebstahl ist der Zeitpunkt der Vollendung entscheidend.
Kann ein Ladendiebstahl eingestellt werden?
Bei geringwertiger Beute und nicht vorbestraften Beschuldigten ist eine Einstellung nach §§ 153, 153a StPO, oft gegen Auflage, häufig erreichbar. Ein etwaiges Hausverbot betrifft das Zivilrecht und ändert daran nichts.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Theft? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Theft requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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