---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-8-7. Theft by receiving stolen property.
collection: code
id: 16-8-7
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-8-7 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-8-7
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-8-7.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-8-7/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch7-11-(v14a)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=aecbfe9c_0#page=247
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-8.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / OFFENSES INVOLVING THEFT / THEFT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-8-7. Theft by receiving stolen property.

(a) A person commits the offense of theft by receiving stolen property when he receives, disposes of, or retains stolen property which he knows or should know was stolen unless the property is received, disposed of, or retained with intent to restore it to the owner. ‘‘Receiving’’ means acquiring possession or control or lending on the security of the property.

(b) In any prosecution under this Code section it shall not be necessary to show a conviction of the principal thief.

## History

Laws 1833, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, pp. 807, 808; Code 1863, §§ 4382, 4383; Code 1868, §§ 4420, 4421; Code 1873, §§ 4488, 4489; Code 1882, §§ 4488, 4489; Penal Code 1895, §§ 171, 172; Penal Code 1910, §§ 168, 169; Code 1933, §§ 26-2620, 26-2621; Ga. L. 1961, p. 118, § 1; Code 1933, § 26-1806, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1; Ga. L. 1969, p. 857, § 4.

## Law Reviews

For survey article on criminal law and procedure, see 34 Mercer L. Rev. 89 (1982). For annual survey of criminal law, see 38 Mercer L. Rev. 129 (1986).

For comment on Gaskins v. State, 119 Ga. App. 593, 168 S.E.2d 183 (1969), see 22 Mercer L. Rev. 481 (1971).