California Penal Code §487 — Grand Theft
PC §487 defines grand theft in California — theft of property, money, or labor valued over $950 (§487(a)), theft directly from a person (§487(c)), theft of an automobile (§487(d)(1)), or theft of a firearm (§487(d)(2)). Grand theft is a wobbler in most forms: felony carries 16 months, 2, or 3 years in county jail under PC §1170(h); misdemeanor carries up to 1 year. Grand theft of a firearm is a straight felony and a serious felony strike under §1192.7(c)(26).
Reviewed by Daniel S. Rubin, CA Bar 302093 · Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney · Grand Theft Cases in All LA County Courts
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01 — Quick Facts
PC §487 — Grand Theft at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | California Penal Code §487 — Grand Theft |
| Code Type | Penal Code (PC) |
| Classification | Wobbler (Firearm variant = Straight Felony) |
| Felony Penalty | 16 months, 2, or 3 years county jail (PC §1170(h)) |
| Misdemeanor Penalty | Up to 1 year county jail |
| Threshold | Over $950 (or from-person / auto / firearm regardless of value) |
| Strike | Yes — §487(d)(2) grand theft of firearm |
| Moral Turpitude | Yes — CIMT for immigration |
| Restitution | Mandatory full value to victim |
| Free Consultation | (213) 723-2337 — 24/7 |
01 — What Is PC §487?
What Is California Penal Code §487?
PC §487 Reads:
"Grand theft is theft committed in any of the following cases: (a) When the money, labor, or real or personal property taken is of a value exceeding nine hundred fifty dollars ($950)... (c) When the property is taken from the person of another. (d) When the property taken is any of the following: (1) An automobile. (2) A firearm."
— California Penal Code §487
Grand theft is the felonies-grade counterpart to petty theft (§484/§488). All theft in California requires (1) taking, (2) property of another, (3) without consent, (4) with intent to permanently deprive. §487 pushes the offense to grand theft when the value exceeds $950, when property is taken directly from a person (pickpocketing), when the property is an automobile, or when the property is a firearm. Post-Prop 47, all under-$950 theft is misdemeanor petty theft under §490.2 — regardless of the theory (larceny, embezzlement, false pretenses).
PC §487 vs. §484/§490.2 (Petty Theft)
§487 = value >$950, OR from person, auto, or firearm. §490.2 = value ≤$950 (Prop 47 misdemeanor). Firearm is grand theft AND a strike regardless of value.
PC §487(a) — Grand Theft
Value over $950 in property, money, or labor. Wobbler carrying 16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs county jail or up to 1 yr misdemeanor jail. Prop 47 makes ≤$950 misdemeanor.
PC §487(d)(2) — Grand Theft Firearm
Theft of any firearm regardless of value. Straight felony and a serious-felony strike under §1192.7(c)(26). §487(c) from-person and §487(d)(1) auto also elevate to grand theft.
Prop 47 Changed Grand Theft Practice
Since 2014, Prop 47 requires any theft of $950 or less to be charged as misdemeanor petty theft under §490.2, regardless of theory (embezzlement, false pretenses, larceny). This vastly narrowed §487(a) filings and enabled retroactive resentencing under PC §1170.18. Aggregation issues — whether multiple thefts can be summed to exceed $950 — remain a battleground; single-victim, single-scheme cases can aggregate, but distinct incidents typically cannot.
Official Sources
02 — Elements of the Crime
Elements the Prosecution Must Prove Under PC §487
The prosecution must prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt.
Took Property of Another
Defendant took, obtained, appropriated, or converted property or money belonging to someone else.
Without Consent
Property owner did not consent to the taking or authorized use.
Intent to Permanently Deprive
Defendant intended to permanently deprive the owner of the property or its use.
Grand-Theft Trigger
Value exceeded $950, OR the property was taken from the person, OR was an automobile, OR was a firearm.
03 — Degrees
PC §487 — Tiers & Degrees
Charging levels and sentencing tiers for this offense.
§487(a) — General Grand Theft
Wobbler; value over $950 or aggregate single scheme.
§487(c) — From Person
Pickpocketing, phone-snatch, chain-snatch. Wobbler regardless of value.
§487(d)(1) — Grand Theft Auto
Any motor vehicle. Wobbler; also charged under §10851 VC.
§487(d)(2) — Grand Theft Firearm
Straight felony. Serious felony strike under §1192.7(c)(26).
04 — Penalties
Penalties for PC §487 Grand Theft in California
Sentencing exposure and commonly stacked charges.
| Charge | Code | Prison Term | Probation | Strike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft (felony) | PC §487(a) | 16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs jail | Available | No |
| Grand Theft (misd.) | PC §487(a) | Up to 1 yr jail | Available | No |
| Grand Theft from Person | PC §487(c) | 16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs jail | Available | No |
| Grand Theft Auto | PC §487(d)(1) | 16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs jail | Available | No |
| Grand Theft Firearm | PC §487(d)(2) | 16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs prison | Limited | YES — serious felony |
| Petty Theft (≤$950) | PC §490.2 | Up to 6 mo jail | Available | No |
Aggravating Enhancements & Companion Charges
Aggregated Loss >$65k–$3.2M
PC §12022.6
Excessive-taking enhancement adds 1–4 years (currently sunset; some older filings still apply).
Aggregated White-Collar >$100k
PC §186.11
Adds 2, 3, or 5 years for aggregate pattern loss over $100,000.
Elder Victim
PC §368
Grand theft from elder (65+) or dependent adult adds 1–4 years.
Prior Theft Convictions
PC §666
Prior theft convictions can enhance sentencing; petty-with-prior escalation.
Firearm Strike
PC §1192.7(c)(26)
§487(d)(2) firearm theft is a serious felony strike — future felonies double.
Collateral Consequences
- Crime of moral turpitude — deportation and inadmissibility for non-citizens
- Aggravated felony under INA §101(a)(43)(G) at loss >$10,000
- Firearm strike consequences (grand theft firearm)
- Employment barriers, especially fiduciary and financial roles
- Mandatory restitution to victim (PC §1202.4)
- Professional-license discipline exposure
Sentencing References
05 — Defense Strategies
How Rubin Law Defends PC §487 Grand Theft Charges
Rubin Law, P.C. defense strategies for this charge.
Claim of Right
Honest, good-faith belief that defendant had a right to the property — even if mistaken — is a complete defense to specific-intent theft charges.
People v. Tufunga
No Intent to Permanently Deprive
Borrowing with intent to return, testing property, or civil dispute over ownership is not theft. Intent must exist at the moment of taking.
CALCRIM 1800
Consent / Authorization
Express or implied consent from the owner defeats §487. Common in family, joint-owner, and employment contexts.
PC §487 element
Value Under $950 (Prop 47)
Actual value ≤$950 requires misdemeanor charging under §490.2 — regardless of theft theory. Aggregation limited to single scheme, single victim.
Prop 47 / §490.2
Not From Person
§487(c) requires taking directly from the body or immediate presence of the victim. Snatching from unattended items is petty theft, not grand theft from person.
People v. Williams
Mistake of Fact / Identification
Attack identification evidence, surveillance quality, and eyewitness reliability. Suggestive lineups suppressed under People v. Sanchez.
Neil v. Biggers
Illegal Search / Miranda
Suppress statements without Miranda; suppress property recovered from unlawful searches.
Miranda / §1538.5
Civil Compromise / Diversion
Misdemeanor filings frequently qualify for PC §1001.95 diversion or §1377 civil compromise on non-violent grand theft.
Constitutional Sources
07 — Court Process
How PC §487 Grand Theft Cases Move Through Los Angeles Courts
How this case moves through LA County criminal courts.
- 1
Step 1 — Report / Investigation
Victim report, surveillance review, and item recovery. Detectives frequently seek voluntary interview — do not agree without counsel.
- 2
Step 2 — Filing Decision
DA reviews value, aggregation theory, and priors. Prop 47 threshold and firearm-strike consequences drive charging.
- 3
Step 3 — Arraignment
Charges read, bail set. Felony grand theft bail typically $20,000–$50,000; firearm variant higher.
- 4
Step 4 — Preliminary Hearing (Felony)
Contest identification, value, aggregation, and intent elements. Cross-examine surveillance and eyewitness testimony.
- 5
Step 5 — Motion Practice
PC §1538.5 to suppress illegal searches; PC §995 to dismiss for insufficient evidence; PC §17(b) motion for misdemeanor reduction.
- 6
Step 6 — Plea, Trial, or Diversion
Common outcomes: full-restitution diversion, misdemeanor reduction under §17(b) or Prop 47, or negotiated plea avoiding strike/CIMT.
Los Angeles Courts That Handle PC §487 Grand Theft Cases
LA-area courts most commonly handling filings of this offense.
Reviewed by Your Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin — Los Angeles Grand Theft Defense Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin has defended clients charged with grand theft and related offenses in Los Angeles County courts — including Clara Shortridge Foltz, Van Nuys, Compton, and Pomona. He understands that these cases are won in the details: the suppression hearing that eliminates key evidence, the preliminary hearing cross-examination that exposes a weak witness, the penalty phase argument that keeps a client out of the worst outcome.
This page was written and reviewed by Daniel A. Rubin, Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, CA State Bar 302093, with 10+ years of experience defending clients charged under PC §487 in Los Angeles County. Last reviewed: July 2026.
CA Bar 302093 | Whittier Law School | Rising Star — Super Lawyers 2019–2023 | Grand Theft Cases Throughout LA County
09 — FAQs
PC §487 Grand Theft Questions — Los Angeles
What is the threshold for grand theft in California?
Value over $950, OR taken from the person, OR an automobile, OR a firearm. Anything of $950 or less that is not from-person, auto, or firearm is misdemeanor petty theft under Prop 47 (§490.2).
Is grand theft a felony?
§487(a), (c), and (d)(1) are wobblers — chargeable as felony (16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs county jail) or misdemeanor (up to 1 yr jail). §487(d)(2) grand theft of a firearm is a straight felony and a serious-felony strike.
Is grand theft a strike offense?
Only §487(d)(2) grand theft of a firearm — serious felony strike under §1192.7(c)(26). Other grand theft variants are not strikes.
How does Prop 47 affect grand theft cases?
Prop 47 (2014) requires all theft of $950 or less to be charged as §490.2 misdemeanor petty theft, regardless of theory. Pre-Prop 47 felony grand-theft convictions with loss ≤$950 can be resentenced retroactively under PC §1170.18.
Can grand theft charges be aggregated?
Yes, under limited conditions. Multiple thefts from a single victim in a single scheme, or multiple thefts under a single continuing motive, aggregate. Distinct incidents against different victims generally do NOT aggregate under People v. Bailey.
What is a "claim of right" defense?
An honest, good-faith belief — even if mistaken — that defendant had a legal right to the property. Complete defense to specific-intent theft under People v. Tufunga (1999).
What is the difference between grand theft auto and joyriding?
Grand theft auto (§487(d)(1)) requires intent to permanently deprive. Joyriding / unauthorized use (VC §10851) covers temporary taking without permanent-deprivation intent. Both may be charged; a plea to §10851 alone often avoids CIMT.
Are there immigration consequences?
Yes. §487 is a crime of moral turpitude — deportable and inadmissible. At loss >$10,000, aggravated felony under INA §101(a)(43)(G) attaches — mandatory removal.
Available 24/7 — Free Consultation
Charged With PC §487 Grand Theft in Los Angeles?
PC §487 is a wobbler (firearm variant a strike) with CIMT immigration risk and mandatory restitution. Rubin Law, P.C. defends grand-theft cases with Prop 47, claim-of-right, and diversion strategies. Call 24/7.