§ 496.5 – Automotive Property Theft for Resale

California Penal Code § 496.5 PC

(a) A person who unlawfully possesses property that was acquired through one or more acts of theft from a vehicle, unlawful entry of a vehicle, burglary of a locked vehicle, or vehicle tampering as defined in Section 10852 of the Vehicle Code, whether or not the person committed the act of theft, burglary, or vehicle tampering, is guilty of automotive property theft for resale when both of the following apply:

(1) The property is not possessed for personal use and the person has the intent to sell or exchange the property for value, or the intent to act in concert with one or more persons to sell or exchange the property for value.

(2) The value of the possessed property exceeds nine hundred fifty dollars ($950). For purposes of determining the value of the property, the property described in paragraph (1) can be considered in the aggregate with any of the following:

(A) Any other such property possessed by the person with such intent within the last two years.

(B) Any property possessed by another person acting in concert with the first person to sell or exchange the property for value, when that property was acquired through one or more acts of theft from a vehicle, unlawful entry of a vehicle, burglary of a locked vehicle, or vehicle tampering as defined in Section 10852 of the Vehicle Code, regardless of the identity of the person committing the acts of theft, burglary, or vehicle tampering.

(b) For the purpose of determining, in any proceeding, whether the defendant had the intent to sell or exchange the property for value, the trier of fact may consider any competent evidence, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Whether the defendant has in the past two years sold or exchanged for value any property acquired through theft from a vehicle, burglary of a locked vehicle, or vehicle tampering as defined in Section 10852 of the Vehicle Code, or through any related offenses, including any conduct that occurred in other jurisdictions, if relevant to demonstrate a fact other than the defendant’s disposition to commit the act, as provided by subdivision (b) of Section 1101 of the Evidence Code.

(2) Whether the property involved in the offense is of a type or quantity that would not normally be purchased for personal use or consumption, including use or consumption by one’s immediate family.

(c) A violation of subdivision (a) is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.

(d) This section does not preclude or prohibit prosecution under any other law.

PC 496.5 becomes law in 2025.