Why is stealing a car in the U.S.A called grand theft auto?

Question

I have wondered about this for a while

Answer 1

Grand theft is stealing an expensive item, usually $2500 or more in most states. Less than that is considered "Petty Theft". Committing Grand Theft by stealing an automobile = Grand Theft, Auto.

Answer 2

There's ordinary theft and grand theft.

Grand theft is when there's a lot of money or value involved, like stealing a plane, house or car.

Grand Theft Plane is stealing a plane.
Grand Theft Auto is stealing an auto.

Actually when a house is stolen it is usually some variation on Identity Theft. e.g. a man gets home from being in the hospital to find out that some guy has done some forgery on bank accounts and ownership papers & now the house is in this other guy's name who has changed the locks & is living there & calls the police to arrest the original prior owner for harrassing the new owner.

Answer 3

Grand theft is defined as stealing an amount of money or property of a value that is over a certain limit. For example, if a municipality's grand theft limit is $1500, thefts greater than $1500 are grand theft, while thefts less that $1500 are petty theft.

The Auto designation just means that the grand theft that occurred was the theft of an automobile valued at more than the grand theft limit. This is as opposed to grand theft embezzlement, grand theft mail, grand theft robbery, etc.

Answer 4

It is because theft of an automobile is considered grand theft regardless of the value of the vehicle. Unlike stealing any other property, which is considered petty larceny up to $1000, then it becomes grand larceny.

The penalty for stealing a $200 beater would be the same as stealing a $50,000 car.

Answer 5

Theft is stealing something. Grand theft is stealing something above a certain value, usually $1000. Grand theft auto, therefore, would be stealing an automobile with a value greater than $1000.

Answer 6

Grand theft is a general term for any theft over a certain cash value, which I believe varies from state to state. Grand theft auto is a specific category of grand theft, because cars are generally worth enough money to fall in the grand theft category.

Answer 7

Grand theft is exceeding the value of petty theft. The amount varies by jurisdiction. Unless you steal a really, really cheap car, it would be grand theft.

If a car would qualify for petty theft auto, nobody would want to seal it anyway.

Answer 8

Situated in Southern California, not definately not the Mexico line, San Diego may be the oldest area in California, launched in 1769 and if you want to know an area with a wonderful organic splendor and a pleasing environment, with gentle conditions and plenty of sunlight with hotelbye you should start. In San Diego you are able to visit: museums, gardens, Spanish Colonial style structure within Balboa Park, the world popular San Diego Zoo, and the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. SeaWorld San Diego is one of the city's principal attractions, specially for families. It is located along the waterfront in Mission Bay. For all American's SeaWorld has been quite a long time family convention, having been with us since the 1960s. Among the highlights are the assortment of shows presenting killer whales, sea lions, dolphins, and different sea life. You will find all kinds of tours from roller coasters plunging in to water, to more sedate carnival form flights for tots. SeaWorld is definitely an aquarium that enables for close up looks at sharks and different sea creatures that may be observed through an fat canal, along side feel tanks, and close encounters with dolphins and people of tidal pools.

Answer 9

because it is a theft of over 1000 dollars usually and it an automobile. The $1000 or more makes it a grand theft.

Answer 10

grand theft describes that a high valued/expensive item was stolen and then auto refers to what was stolen. i guess you could write it with a hyphen or comma grand theft :auto though you never see it like that.