The Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 16-8-2 through 16-8-9 outlines the various penalties for theft and conditions that someone could receive criminal or civil punishment for, everything from theft of specific chemicals to theft of cemetery memorials.

Theft can also include products or services that someone takes and benefits from items that aren’t theirs, anything from an employee embezzling company funds to someone claiming that they won a vacation package that isn’t theirs.

The legal process

According to Section 51-10 of Georgia code, the civil process in Georgia starts with the person who believes they have been stolen from, such as a business owner or store owner, sending the person or people a written and certified letter, requiring them to return the item or pay the value of what was taken. The legal demand should also include:

• A specific listing of the value of the item as well as any specific losses that have been incurred due the item’s theft.
• A specific listing of any punitive damages, either up to $300 or three times the actual value of what was lost, whichever amount is higher.