116 All larcenies to be of same nature
Every larceny, whatever the value of the property stolen, shall be deemed to be of the same nature, and shall be subject to the same incidents in all respects, as grand larceny was before the passing of the Act seventh and eighth George the Fourth, chapter twenty-nine.
Whosoever commits larceny, or any felony by this Act made punishable like larceny, shall, except in the cases hereinafter otherwise provided for, be liable to penal servitude for five years.
118 Intent to return property no defence
Where, on the trial of a person for larceny, it appears that the accused appropriated the property in question to his own use, or for his own benefit, or that of another, but intended eventually to restore the same, or in the case of money to return an equivalent amount, such person shall not by reason only thereof be entitled to acquittal.
119 Verdict where several takings proved
Where, on the trial of a person for larceny, it appears that the property alleged in any count to have been stolen at one time, was taken at different times, the prosecutor shall not be required to elect upon which taking he will proceed, unless the Judge so orders:Provided always that evidence shall not in any such case be given of any taking which occurred more than six months in point of time from any other of such takings.
120 Trial for larceny—verdict of embezzlement etc
Where, on the trial of a person for larceny, it appears that he took the property in such manner as to amount in law to the offence of embezzlement or fraudulent misappropriation, or the fraudulent application, or disposition, of property as a clerk, or servant, or person employed in the Public Service, or of obtaining property by any false pretence or by any wilfully false promise, or partly by a false pretence and partly by a wilfully false promise, the jury may acquit him of the larceny charged, and find him guilty of such other offence, and he shall be liable to punishment accordingly.
121 Verdict of “larceny or receiving”
Where, on the trial of a person charged with larceny, or any offence which includes larceny, and, also, with having feloniously received the property charged to have been stolen, knowing it to have been stolen, the jury find specially that he either stole, or feloniously received, such property, and that they are unable to say which of those offences was committed by him, such person shall not by reason thereof be entitled to acquittal, but shall be liable to be sentenced for the larceny, or for the felonious receiving, whichever of the two offences is subject to the lesser punishment.
122 Verdict where persons indicted for joint larceny or receiving
On the trial of any two, or more, persons charged with larceny, and also with having feloniously received property, the jury may find all, or any, of such persons guilty, either of stealing, or feloniously receiving, the property, or part or parts thereof, or may find one, or more, of the said persons guilty of stealing, and the other, or others, of them guilty of feloniously receiving the property, or part or parts thereof.
Where, on the trial of a person for larceny, it appears that the property in question was taken, appropriated, or retained, under circumstances amounting to a misdemeanour, the jury may acquit him of the offence charged and find him guilty of such misdemeanour, and he shall be liable to punishment accordingly.
Where, upon the trial of a person for larceny, it appears:(a) that he had fraudulently appropriated to his own use or that of another, the property in respect of which he is indicted, although he had not originally taken the property with any fraudulent intent, or(b) that he had fraudulently retained the property in order to secure a reward for its restoration,the jury may return a verdict accordingly, and thereupon he shall be liable to imprisonment for two years, or to a fine of $2,000, or both.
Whosoever, being a bailee of any property, fraudulently takes, or converts, the same, or any part thereof, or any property into or for which it has been converted, or exchanged, to his own use, or the use of any person other than the owner thereof, although he does not break bulk, or otherwise determine the bailment, shall be deemed to be guilty of larceny and liable to be indicted for that offence.The accused shall be taken to be a bailee within the meaning of this section, although he may not have contracted to restore, or deliver, the specific property received by him, or may only have contracted to restore, or deliver, the property specifically.
126 Stealing cattle or killing with intent to steal
Whosoever:steals any cattle, or
shall be liable to penal servitude for fourteen years.wilfully kills any cattle with intent to steal the carcass, or skin, or other part, of the cattle so killed,
127 Stealing or killing cattle—uncertainty as to sex or age not to entitle to acquittal
Where, on the trial of a person for an offence under section 126 it appears that he stole, or killed, an animal of the species described in the indictment, but it is uncertain on the evidence what was its sex, or age, such person shall not be entitled to acquittal by reason only of such uncertainty.
128 Trial for stealing cattle—verdict of stealing skins
Where, on the trial of a person for stealing cattle, the jury are not satisfied that he is guilty thereof, but are satisfied that he is guilty of stealing the carcass, or skin, or part, of such cattle, or of killing the said cattle within section 126, they may acquit him of the offence charged, and find him guilty of such last-mentioned stealing, or killing, and he shall be liable to punishment accordingly.
129 Trial for killing cattle—verdict of stealing
Where, on the trial of a person for the offence of killing cattle within the meaning of section 126, the jury are not satisfied that he is guilty thereof, but are satisfied that he is guilty of stealing such cattle, they may acquit him of the offence charged, and find him guilty of such stealing, and he shall be liable to punishment accordingly.
130 Trial for stealing cattle—verdict of misdemeanour
Where, on the trial of a person for stealing cattle, the jury are not satisfied that he is guilty thereof, but are satisfied that he is guilty of an offence within section 131, they may acquit him of the offence charged, and find him guilty of an offence under the said last mentioned section, and he shall be liable to punishment accordingly.
131 Unlawfully using etc another person’s cattle
Whosoever:takes and works, or otherwise uses, or takes for the purpose of working, or using, any cattle the property of another person without the consent of the owner, or person in lawful possession thereof, or
takes any such cattle for the purpose of secreting the same, or obtaining a reward for the restoration or pretended finding thereof, or for any other fraudulent purpose, or
shall be liable to imprisonment for three years.fraudulently brands, or ear-marks, or defaces, or alters, the brands or ear-marks of any cattle the property of another person,
Whosoever, having been summarily convicted under this or any former Act, of any such offence as is hereinafter in this section mentioned, afterwards,steals any dog, or
shall be liable to imprisonment for one year.has unlawfully in his possession any stolen dog, or the skin of any stolen dog, knowing such dog to have been stolen,
133 Taking money to restore dogs
Whosoever corruptly takes any money or reward, directly or indirectly, under pretence, or upon account, of aiding any person to recover any dog which has been stolen, or which is in the possession of any person other than its owner, shall be liable to imprisonment for one year.
134 Stealing, destroying etc valuable security
Whosoever steals, embezzles, or for any fraudulent purpose destroys, cancels, obliterates, or conceals, the whole or any part of any valuable security, shall be liable, as if he had stolen a chattel, to be punished as for larceny.
135 Stealing, destroying etc wills or codicils
Whosoever steals, or, for any fraudulent purpose destroys, cancels, obliterates, or conceals, the whole or any part of any will, codicil, or other testamentary instrument, either during the life of the testator, or after his death, or whether the same relates to real, or personal estate, or to both, shall be liable to penal servitude for seven years.
136 Proviso to sections 134 and 135
No person shall be convicted under section 134 or section 135 in respect of any act done by him, if, before being charged with the offence, he first disclosed such act on oath, under compulsory process, in a proceeding instituted in good faith by a party aggrieved, or under compulsory examination in some matter in bankruptcy, or insolvency, or under compulsory examination in some matter in the liquidation of a corporation.
137 Civil remedies not affected by conviction
(1) Nothing in section 134 or in section 135, nor any proceeding, conviction, or judgment thereupon, shall affect any remedy at law, or in equity, which any party aggrieved would have had if this Act had not been passed.(2) No evidence of the conviction of any person under either of the said sections shall be admissible in any action, or suit, against him.
138 Stealing, destroying etc records etc of any court or public office
Whosoever steals, or for any fraudulent purpose, takes from its place of deposit, for the time being, or from any person having the lawful custody thereof, or unlawfully and maliciously cancels, obliterates, injures, or destroys, the whole or any part, of any record, document, or writing, of, or belonging to, any Court, or relating to any matter or cause, civil or criminal, pending, or terminated, in any Court, or relating to the business of any office or employment under Her Majesty, and being in any public office, shall be liable to penal servitude for seven years.
Of things attached to or growing on land
139 Stealing etc metal, glass, wood etc fixed to house or land
Whosoever steals, or rips, cuts, severs, or breaks with intent to steal, any glass, or woodwork, belonging to any building, or any metal, or any utensil, or fixture, whether made of metal or other material, or of both respectively, fixed in, or to, any building, or anything made of metal, fixed in any land being private property, or used as a fence to any dwelling-house, garden, or area, or being in any square, or street, or in, or on, any place dedicated to public use or ornament, or in any burial-ground, shall be liable to be punished as for larceny.
140 Stealing etc trees etc in pleasure-grounds
Whosoever:steals, or destroys or damages with intent to steal, the whole, or any part, of any tree, sapling, shrub, or plant, or any underwood, growing in any park, pleasure-ground, garden, orchard, or avenue, or in any ground belonging to any dwelling-house, where the value of the article stolen, or the amount of injury done, exceeds two dollars, or
shall be liable to be punished as for larceny.steals, or destroys or damages with intent to steal, the whole, or any part, of any tree, sapling, shrub, or plant, or any underwood respectively growing elsewhere than in any situation beforementioned, where the value of the article stolen, or the amount of injury done, exceeds ten dollars,
144 Stealing ore of metal, coal etc
Whosoever steals, or severs with intent to steal, any gold, or the ore of any metal, or any metal or mineral of commercial value, or any coal, or cannel coal, from any mine, bed, or vein thereof respectively, or from any claim, or land comprised in any lease, or promise of lease, for mining purposes by or on behalf of the Crown, shall be liable to be punished as for larceny.
145 Miners removing ore with intent to defraud
Whosoever, being employed in or about any mine, or claim, or any land comprised in any lease, or promise of lease, for mining purposes by or on behalf of the Crown, takes, removes, or conceals, any gold, or the ore of any metal, or any metal or mineral of commercial value, found, or being in such mine, claim, or land, with intent to defraud any mining company, or partnership, or any proprietor of, or adventurer in, such mine, claim, or land, or any workman or miner employed therein shall be liable to imprisonment for three years.
Whosoever, being the holder of any lease issued under any Act relating to the gold-fieldsby any device or contrivance defrauds, or attempts to defraud, Her Majesty of any gold, or money payable under such lease, or
shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.conceals, or makes a false statement as to the amount of any gold procured by him, or falsifies any account, with intent in any such case to defraud,
147 Fraud on partners in mines etc
Whosoever, with intent to defraud his co-partner, or co-adventurer, in any claim, or land comprised in any lease, or promise of lease, for mining purposes by or on behalf of the Crown, or in any share or interest therein, secretly keeps back, or conceals, any gold, or any other metal or mineral of commercial value, found in, or upon, or taken from, such claim or land, shall be liable to be punished as for larceny.
148 Stealing property in a dwelling-house
Whosoever steals in a dwelling-house any property shall be liable to penal servitude for seven years.
Whosoever steals any property in a dwelling-house, and uses thereafter any menace or threat to any person therein, shall be liable to penal servitude for fourteen years.
Of goods in process of manufacture, tools, &c
150 Stealing goods in process of manufacture
Whosoever steals, to the value of one dollar, any goods, article, or material, while anywhere placed, or exposed, during the process or progress of manufacture, shall be liable to penal servitude for a term not exceeding three years.
151 Selling etc materials to be manufactured
Whosoever, being, for the purpose of manufacture, or any special purpose connected with manufacture, employed to make, prepare, or work up, any goods, article, or material, or being for any such purpose entrusted with any such goods, article, or material, or with any tools, or apparatus, sells, pawns, purloins, secretes, embezzles, exchanges, or otherwise fraudulently disposes of the same, or any part thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for four years.
152 Stealing from ship in port or on wharfs etc
Whosoever:steals any property in any vessel, barge, or boat, while in any haven, or port, or upon any navigable river, or canal, or in any creek, or basin, belonging to, or communicating with, any such haven, port, river, or canal, or
shall be liable to penal servitude for seven years.steals any property from any dock, wharf, or quay,
153 Stealing from ship in distress or wrecked
Whosoever steals, or plunders, any part of any vessel in distress, or wrecked, stranded, or cast on shore, or any property of any kind to the value of two dollars belonging to such vessel, shall be liable to penal servitude for ten years.
154 Tenants etc stealing articles let to hire
Whosoever, being the tenant, or occupier, of any house, building, or lodging, steals any chattel, or fixture let to be used therewith, whether the contract was entered into by the accused, or by any person on his behalf, shall be liable to be punished as for larceny.
154A Taking a conveyance without consent of owner
(1) Any person who:(a) without having the consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of a conveyance, takes and drives it, or takes it for the purpose of driving it, or secreting it, or obtaining a reward for its restoration or pretended restoration, or for any other fraudulent purpose, or(b) knowing that any conveyance has been taken without such consent, drives it or allows himself to be carried in or on it,shall be deemed to be guilty of larceny and liable to be indicted for that offence.(2) For the purposes of this section conveyance means any cart, wagon, cab, carriage, motor car, caravan, trailer, motor lorry, tractor, earth moving equipment, omnibus, motor or other bicycle, or any ship, or vessel, whether decked or undecked, used or intended for navigation, and drive shall be construed accordingly.
(1) Any person who steals a motor car is liable to penal servitude for 10 years.(2) In this section:motor car means any motor vehicle (as defined in the Motor Traffic Act 1909) but does not include a caravan, trailer or motor vehicle constructed principally for use in agricultural production.
Larceny and illegal use of aircraft
154B Stealing aircraft and unlawfully taking or exercising control of aircraft
(1) Whosoever steals any aircraft shall be liable to penal servitude for ten years.(2) Whosoever without lawful excuse takes or exercises control, whether direct or through another person, of an aircraft shall be deemed to be guilty of larceny and be liable to penal servitude for seven years.(3) Whosoever without lawful excuse takes or exercises control, whether direct or through another person, of an aircraft while another person, not being an accomplice of the first-mentioned person, is on board the aircraft shall be deemed to be guilty of larceny and be liable to penal servitude for fourteen years.(4) Whosoever without lawful excuse, by force or violence or threat of force or violence, or by any trick or false pretence, takes or exercises control, whether direct or through another person, of an aircraft while another person, not being an accomplice of the first-mentioned person, is on board the aircraft shall be deemed to be guilty of larceny and be liable to penal servitude for twenty years.
154C Malicious or fraudulent abstraction, waste etc of electricity
Whosoever maliciously or fraudulently abstracts, causes to be wasted or diverted, consumes or uses any electricity, shall be guilty of larceny, and punishable accordingly.