Louisiana Theft of a Used Building Component Law

A.  Theft of a used building component is the misappropriation or the taking of a used building component from immovable property belonging to another, either without the consent of the owner of the immovable property, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations.  An intent to deprive the owner of the immovable property permanently of the used building component is essential.

B.  "Used building component" shall mean any object produced or shaped by human workmanship or tools that is an element of structural, architectural, archaeological, historical, ornamental, cultural, utilitarian, decorative, or sentimental significance or interest, which has been and may be used as an adjunct to or component or ornament of any building or structure, regardless of monetary worth, age, size, shape, or condition, that is immovable property or fixture, including but not be limited to bricks, siding, gutters, downspouts, lightning rods, chimney roofs, lights, chandeliers, stoves, tubs, sinks, faucets, faucet handles, toilets, bidets, showers, fans, furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters, sprinkling systems, shelving, countertops, cabinets, built-in speakers, shutters, trim, rafters, roof tiles, roofing, studs, foundation, barge boards, paneling, stairs, risers, banisters, wiring, plumbing, hinges, door latches, door knobs, medallions, mantles, flooring, carpet, tiles, molding, wainscoting, pavers, doors, windows, sills, transoms, joists, mailboxes, signage, fountains, decking, gates, fences, planters, landscaping, plantings or portions thereof, or component parts of immovable property of any nature or kind whatsoever.

C.(1)  Whoever commits the crime of theft of a used building component, when the theft or taking amounts to a value or replacement value, whichever is greater, of one thousand five hundred dollars or more shall be fined not more than three thousand dollars, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than ten years, or both.

(2)  When the theft or taking amounts to a value or replacement value, whichever is greater, of five hundred dollars or more, but less than a value of one thousand five hundred dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or may be fined not more than two thousand dollars, or both.

(3)(a)  When the theft or taking amounts to a value or replacement value, whichever is greater, of less than five hundred dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned, for not more than six months, or may be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or both.

(b)  In a case provided for in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, if the offender has been convicted two or more times previously of a theft or taking which, on each previous occasion, amounted to a value or replacement value, whichever is greater, of less than five hundred dollars, he shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years, or may be fined not more than two thousand dollars, or both.

D.  When there has been a theft or taking by a number of distinct acts of the offender, the aggregate of the amount of the theft or taking shall determine the grade of the offense.