If someone steals in China, he/she may be sentenced to public surveillance as the least serious penalty or life imprisonment as the most serious penalty, depending on the seriousness of the crime he/she commits.
In accordance with the Criminal Law of China, punishment for theft varies from different circumstances as follows:
1. Whoever steals a relatively large amount of property, commits theft repeatedly, commits burglaries, carries a weapon to steal or pickpockets shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention or public surveillance;
2. if the amount involved is huge, or if there are other serious circumstances, he/she shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years;
3. If the amount involved is especially huge, or if there are other especially serious
circumstances, he/she shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 10 years or life imprisonment.
In addition, he/she may also be imposed a fine.
Reference:
Article 264 of Criminal Law of China (2017)
Contributors: CJO Staff Contributors Team
