Property, fraud and financial crimes
Theft and vehicle offenses, receiving stolen property, burglary and trespass, criminal mischief and arson, forgery and fraud, computer crimes, money laundering and extortion under SAPC Chapters 28 and 30 to 34, with the Fourth Amendment limits on property and digital searches.
Required for Class A Class B Class C Class D Class F
The exam draws 30 questions from a bank of 57. You have 45 minutes, and you need 80% to pass. Questions apply the law to situations. To prepare, read this guide alongside the cited sections of the San Andreas codes, the 2026 Law Enforcement Reform Package and the federal authorities below. The U.S. Constitution binds every San Andreas officer. Supreme Court decisions are binding; federal circuit decisions are accepted authority, and where circuits differ the academy teaches the rule that protects rights more.
Property crimes are graded mostly by value and by the kind of property, so the first job at any property scene is to establish exactly what was taken or damaged, who owns it and what it is worth. An owner (SAPC §1.50) is anyone with title, lawful possession, or a greater right to possession than the actor, so a renter, a borrower or a store manager can be the owner for a theft charge. Effective consent (§1.51) is assent that is not induced by force, threat or fraud, so a 'yes' obtained by a lie is no consent at all. Value drives the grade, and the statutes speak of the total value of the property or the pecuniary loss caused. Officers record the evidence of value rather than a guess: receipts, price tags, serial numbers, a manager's statement of retail price, repair estimates and photographs. When the evidence of value sits near a tier boundary, the report says so plainly so the prosecutor can decide. Specific statutes often override the value ladder for particular property or victims, and those exceptions are where recruits most often mis-charge.
Theft is unlawfully appropriating property with intent to deprive the owner. The value ladder is: under $100, Petty Theft, Class C (SAPC §31.01); $100 to under $750, Class B (§31.02); $750 to under $2,500, Class A (§31.03); $2,500 to under $30,000, State Jail Felony (§31.04); $30,000 to under $150,000, 3rd Degree (§31.05); and $150,000 or more, 2nd Degree (§31.06). Several sections ignore value. Theft from a Person (§31.18), such as picking a pocket or removing property from someone's body, is a Class A Misdemeanor at minimum whatever the value. Theft from an Elderly or Disabled Person (§22.69) is a 3rd Degree Felony regardless of value. Theft of a Catalytic Converter (§31.22) and Package Theft from a porch or delivery area (§31.36) are State Jail Felonies regardless of value. Theft by Deception (§31.40) covers obtaining property by creating a false impression and follows the theft tiers. Embezzlement (§31.15, 3rd Degree) is fraudulent conversion of entrusted property by a person in a position of financial trust. Theft of Services (§31.17) covers dine-and-dash, hotel skips and unpaid fares and is graded by value. Organized Retail Theft (§31.37, 3rd Degree) is retail theft in concert with others from three or more establishments within 30 days, or fencing for an organized shoplifting operation.
Vehicle crimes separate taking, using and dealing. Grand Theft Auto (SAPC §31.11, State Jail Felony) is appropriating a motor vehicle valued at $2,500 or more with intent to deprive the owner, without effective consent. Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (§31.16, State Jail Felony), joyriding, is operating another's vehicle without effective consent but without intent to permanently deprive; the statute distinguishes it from Grand Theft Auto on exactly that intent. Carjacking (§31.12, 2nd Degree) is taking a vehicle from a person's presence by force or intimidation. Possession of a Stolen Vehicle (§31.51, State Jail Felony) is knowingly possessing, operating or controlling a vehicle known to have been stolen by another, whether or not the person took part in the theft. Trafficking in a Stolen Vehicle (§31.52, 3rd Degree) goes beyond possession: selling, transferring, exporting or moving it into commerce, such as to a chop shop or an out-of-state buyer. Operating a Chop Shop (§31.21) is a State Jail Felony for employees and a 3rd Degree Felony for the organizer or owner. Knowingly possessing a vehicle part with an altered or removed identification number, or known to come from a stolen vehicle, is §31.53 (Class A). Attempted Grand Theft Auto is §15.08. Facts that prove intent to deprive include changed plates, a stripped interior, a fresh paint job, or a vehicle found far away days later; facts that suggest joyriding include a short ride and a car abandoned intact nearby.
Receiving or Concealing Stolen Property (SAPC §31.13, State Jail Felony) is intentionally or knowingly receiving, retaining or disposing of stolen property knowing it was stolen by another. Knowledge is almost always proved by circumstances: a price far below value, a sale in a parking lot at night, removed or filed serial numbers, a seller with no receipt, and a buyer who gives changing stories. The officer documents each fact that shows what the suspect knew. The Fourth Amendment governs how officers learn that property is stolen. Plain-view seizure requires a lawful vantage point, lawful access and an immediately apparent incriminating character (Horton v. California). Moving an item to read its serial number is a search that requires probable cause (Arizona v. Hicks); an officer lawfully inside a pawnshop or a home who merely suspects a television is stolen may not turn it over to check without probable cause or another lawful basis, such as consent. Possession of Stolen Mail (§31.30) and Mail Theft (§31.25) are State Jail Felonies.
Burglary is an unlawful entry tied to a criminal purpose, and the San Andreas sections place it in Chapter 31. Burglary of a Building (SAPC §31.09, State Jail Felony) is entering, without the owner's effective consent, a building not then open to the public with intent to commit a felony, theft or assault; it is complete on entry with that intent, so nothing need be taken. Burglary of a Habitation (§31.10, 2nd Degree) is entering a habitation without effective consent and committing or attempting to commit a felony, theft or assault, so the report must show what the actor did or tried to do inside. Burglary of a Vehicle (§31.08 and §31.35, Class A) is entering any part of a vehicle without effective consent with intent to commit a felony or theft; §31.35 states it is complete upon entry with that intent and nothing need be taken. Entry into a self-storage unit with intent to commit theft is §31.29 (3rd Degree), and into a coin-operated or vending machine §31.28 (Class A). Possessing lock picks, slim jims, bump keys, RFID cloners or similar instruments with intent to commit burglary is §31.20 (Class A). Attempted Burglary is §15.03, and robbery of an occupant after an unlawful entry into a habitation is Home Invasion Robbery (§29.09). A store during business hours is open to the public, but its locked stockroom or the store after closing is not.
Criminal trespass in Chapter 30 is entry or remaining without effective consent, without the criminal purpose that makes burglary. Criminal Trespass with no signage (SAPC §30.01, Class C) applies where the person had notice that entry was forbidden, or received notice to depart and did not. Fenced or posted property raises it to Class B (§30.02), and a habitation to Class A (§30.03). Government buildings and facilities are Class A (§30.04 and §30.16). Trespass on reasonably marked or fenced critical infrastructure, such as refineries, power stations and water treatment plants, is a State Jail Felony (§30.06). Entering or hiding in a vehicle without the owner's effective consent, after the owner has given notice that entry is forbidden (verbally, by a posting, or by locking), and without intent to commit theft or a felony is Criminal Trespass of a Vehicle (§30.12, Class B), which the statute distinguishes from burglary of a vehicle. Occupying another's property after notice to vacate is Squatting (§30.13, Class A), entering a cordoned crime scene is §30.21 (Class A), and refusing to leave a hospital without medical need after being asked is §30.09 (Class B). An officer called to a trespass should establish how notice was given: a sign, a fence, a verbal order to leave, and who gave it with what authority.
Criminal mischief is intentionally or knowingly damaging or destroying the tangible property of another without consent, graded by pecuniary loss: $100 to under $750, Class B (SAPC §28.02); $750 to under $2,500, State Jail Felony (§28.03); and $2,500 to under $30,000, 3rd Degree (§28.04). Graffiti under $100 is a Class C Misdemeanor (§28.01), and graffiti costing $100 to under $750 to restore is a Class B Misdemeanor (§28.07). Damage to a vehicle by keying, slashing tires or breaking windows is §28.15, which states its own value tiers: under $100 citation (Class C), $100 to $750 Class B, $750 to $2,500 Class A, $2,500 to $30,000 State Jail, and $30,000 to $150,000 3rd Degree. Certain property is protected regardless of value: places of worship (§28.09, 3rd Degree), cemeteries and memorials (§28.08, State Jail Felony), war memorials and public monuments (§28.10, State Jail Felony), traffic control devices (§28.11, Class B, rising to 3rd Degree if the damage causes injury or death), telecommunications or power lines causing service interruption (§28.14, 3rd Degree), and tampering with a pipeline in a way that creates a risk of release or service interruption (§28.12, 2nd Degree). Damaging property in a way that directly causes bodily injury is §28.06 (2nd Degree). When property or its owner was selected because of bias, the Hate Crime Property Damage Enhancement (§42.01) raises the underlying offense by one grade.
Arson in Chapter 28 is graded by the target and the harm. Arson - No Injury (SAPC §28.16, State Jail Felony) is starting a fire or causing an explosion with intent to destroy or damage a building, habitation or vehicle when no one is injured; bodily injury to anyone raises it to §28.17 (2nd Degree), and a resulting death is Aggravated Arson (§28.18, 1st Degree). Arson of an Occupied Structure (§28.19, 1st Degree) applies to a building that is occupied, or that the actor knows may be occupied. Reckless Arson (§28.20, State Jail Felony) covers a fire started recklessly, without intent to damage property but aware of the risk, that causes damage. Wildland or forest fires started intentionally or recklessly are §28.21 (2nd Degree). Purpose-based sections include Arson for Insurance Fraud (§28.24, 2nd Degree) and Arson to Conceal Another Crime, including burning a body or a crime scene (§28.29, 2nd Degree). Arson of a motor vehicle belonging to another is §28.25 (State Jail Felony); of a place of worship §28.26, a school §28.27 and government property §28.34 (each 2nd Degree). Three or more deliberate fires damaging others' property is Serial Arson (§28.28, 1st Degree). Possessing a Molotov cocktail or firebomb with intent to use it is §28.23, and an attempt is §15.10. Officers preserve the scene for fire investigators and record who was inside or could have been, because occupancy can move the charge from a State Jail Felony to a 1st Degree Felony.
Forgery and fraud punish deception. Forgery of a check, draft or payment order with intent to defraud or harm is a State Jail Felony (SAPC §32.01). Counterfeiting a government document such as a licence or permit is §32.08 (State Jail Felony), and counterfeiting or using a fake driver's licence, state ID or passport is §32.09 (3rd Degree). Identity Theft (§31.14, 3rd Degree) is obtaining, possessing, transferring or using another person's identifying information without consent with intent to harm or defraud. Credit Card Fraud is graded by the value of fraudulent transactions: under $2,500 and $2,500 to under $30,000 are State Jail Felonies (§32.02, §32.13), and $30,000 or more is 3rd Degree (§32.14). Wire Fraud (§32.04, 3rd Degree) requires a scheme to defraud and a transmission by wire to execute it; Mail Fraud (§34.15) is its counterpart using mail or commercial carriers. Bank Fraud (§32.05) is a 2nd Degree Felony. Insurance Fraud (§32.03) and staged collisions or false theft claims to an insurer (§32.24) are 3rd Degree Felonies. Knowingly passing counterfeit currency in a transaction is §31.38, and manufacturing or printing it is §32.32. A bad check is presumed to have been issued with intent to defraud if it is not paid within 10 days of written notice (§31.19).
Confidence schemes have their own sections because the deception is the crime. Romance Scams (SAPC §32.19), tech-support scams (§32.20), lottery and sweepstakes scams that collect 'fees' for a prize (§32.26), and inheritance or advance-fee scams (§32.27) are State Jail Felonies at the base level, with romance scams graded upward by value. Operating a Ponzi scheme over $150,000 is a 1st Degree Felony (§32.12), and taking payment on an online marketplace for goods the seller never intends to deliver is §32.33. Obtaining an elderly person's property through undue influence, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud or deception is Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person (§22.65, 3rd Degree). Victims of these schemes are often embarrassed and slow to report. The officer collects the messages, payment records, account numbers, usernames and phone numbers, preserves screenshots, and notes the dates of every transfer, because the money trail is usually the case.
Computer crimes in Chapter 33 start with access. Unauthorized Access to a Computer System (SAPC §33.01) is knowingly accessing a computer, system or network without the owner's effective consent, a Class B Misdemeanor. Accessing a system with intent to obtain property or services by false representations is Computer Fraud, graded by loss or intended gain: under $2,500 State Jail Felony (§33.02), $2,500 to under $30,000 3rd Degree (§33.03), and $30,000 or more 2nd Degree (§33.04). Hacking a government system is §33.08 (3rd Degree), and obtaining or disclosing personal identifying information from a database without authorization is §33.05 (3rd Degree). Skimming devices on ATMs, gas pumps or terminals are §33.12 and §33.13, and phishing messages that mimic a bank or agency to harvest data are §33.27 (each State Jail Felony). Tricking a carrier into moving a victim's number to the actor's SIM is SIM Swapping (§33.17, 3rd Degree). Selling stolen personal data is §33.18 even if the seller was not the original thief. A false emergency report meant to provoke an armed response is Swatting (§33.24, State Jail Felony), rising to §33.25 (3rd Degree) if anyone is injured. Digital evidence carries constitutional limits: police generally need a warrant to search a phone's contents even after arrest (Riley v. California), and historical cell-site location records generally require a warrant (Carpenter v. United States).
Money laundering is knowingly conducting a financial transaction involving the proceeds of criminal activity with intent to conceal the source of those proceeds. It is graded by value: under $30,000, State Jail Felony (SAPC §34.04); $30,000 to under $150,000, 2nd Degree (§34.01); and $150,000 or more, 1st Degree (§34.02). Laundering through cryptocurrency exchanges, mixers or peer-to-peer transfers is §34.05 (3rd Degree), and through real estate or shell companies §34.06 (2nd Degree). Operating an unlicensed money transmission, exchange or check-cashing business is §34.25. Knowingly concealing more than $10,000 in currency to move it across a state or international border without filing the required report is Bulk Cash Smuggling (§34.26, 3rd Degree). Breaking up deposits to evade reporting thresholds is structuring, and the code contains more than one structuring entry, so officers confirm the charge with the prosecutor. Chapter 34 also holds extortion offenses: compelling delivery of property by fear that the actor will commit an offense or expose damaging information (§34.07, 3rd Degree), extortion by threat of violence or serious bodily injury (§34.09, 2nd Degree), Blackmail by threatening to expose information, true or false (§34.08, 3rd Degree), Extortion Under Color of Official Right by a public servant (§34.13, 2nd Degree), and loan sharking enforced by threats or violence (§34.18).
Constitution and case law
The federal authorities this module's questions rely on, and the rule the academy takes from each.
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