A. Definitions:
OBTAIN: To bring about a transfer of interest or possession whether to the offender or to another.
OBTAIN CONTROL OR EXERTS CONTROL OVER PROPERTY: Shall mean and include, but shall not be limited to, the taking, carrying away, interest in, or possession of property.
OWNER: A person or entity, other than the offender who has possession of or any other interest in the property involved even though such interest or possession is unlawful, and without whose consent the offender has no authority to exert control over the property.
PERMANENT DEPRIVATION OR TO PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE:
1. Defeat all recovery of the property by the owner.
2. Deprive the owner permanently of the beneficial use of the property.
3. Retain the property with intent to restore it to owner only if the owner purchases it or leases it back, or pays a reward or other compensation for its return.
4. Sell, give, pledge, or otherwise transfer any interest in the property or subject it to the claim of the person other than the owner.
PROPERTY: Anything of value. Property includes money, admission or transportation tickets, anything of value to the owner; things growing on, affixed to, or found on land, or part of or affixed to any building; electricity, gas and water; telecommunications services; birds, animals, and fish which are ordinarily kept in a state of confinement; food and drink.
STOLEN PROPERTY: Property over which control has been obtained by theft.
B. Theft: A person commits theft when he/she knowingly:
1. Obtains or exerts unauthorized control over property of the owner; or
2. Intends to deprive the owner permanently of the use or benefit of said property.
3. Knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the property in such a manner as to deprive the owner permanently of such use or benefit.
4. Uses, conceals, or abandons the property knowing such use, concealment, or abandonment probably will deprive the owner permanently of such use or benefit.
C. Possession Of Stolen Property: A person is in possession of stolen property when he/she knowingly obtains control over stolen property knowing the property to have been stolen, or under such circumstances as would reasonably induce him/her to believe the property was stolen.
D. Limitation: This section shall apply only to property having a total value of three hundred dollars ($300.00) or under, and the offender does not have any convictions for theft.
E. Penalty: Any person convicted of any violation of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense. (Ord. 2002-35, 4-16-2002)