2012 Delaware Code
Title 11 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
CHAPTER 5. SPECIFIC OFFENSES
Subchapter III. Offenses Involving Property
§ 849. Theft of rented property; class A misdemeanor or class G felony.

(a) A person is guilty of theft of rental property if the person, with the intent specified in § 841 of this title, takes, destroys, converts, wrongfully withholds or appropriates by fraud, deception, threat, false token, false representation or statement, or by any trick, contrivance or other device to avoid payment for or to otherwise appropriate rental property entrusted to said person. For purposes of this section, "property" shall include the use of vehicles or other movable property.

(b) If the finder of fact shall find:

(1) That one who has leased or rented the personal property of another, failed to return or make arrangements acceptable to the rentor (lessor) to return the property to the rentor or the rentor's agent within 10 days after proper notice, following the expiration of the rental (lease) contract; and/or

(2) That one who has leased or rented the personal property of another and has returned such property, failed to make payment, at the agreed rental rate, for the full period which the property was rented or leased, except when said person has a good faith dispute with the owner of the rental property as to whether any payment, or additional payment, is due to the owner of the rental property; and/or

(3) That the rentee (lessee) presented identification to the rentor which was materially false, fictitious or not current with respect to name, address, place of employment or other appropriate items,

then the finder of fact shall be permitted, but not required, to presume intent to commit theft.

(c) As used in subsection (b) of this section, "proper notice" shall consist of a written demand by the rentor made after the expiration of the rental period mailed by certified or registered mail to the rentee at:

(1) The address the rentee gave when the rental contract was made; or

(2) The rentee's last known address if later furnished in writing by the rentee or the rentee's agent.

(d) The reasonable and fair market value of the property obtained shall be utilized in determining the amount involved in the theft.

(e) The following 3 factors, if established by the rentee by a preponderance of the evidence, shall constitute an affirmative defense to prosecution for theft, that the rentee:

(1) Accurately stated the rentee's name, address and other material items of identification at the time of the rental;

(2) Failed to receive the rentor's notice personally due in no significant part to the fault of the rentee; and

(3) Returned the personal property to the rentor or the rentor's agent within 48 hours of the commencement of the prosecution, together with any charges for the overdue period and the value of damages (if any) to the property.

Theft of rented property is a class A misdemeanor, unless the value of the property is $1,500 or more, in which case it is a class G felony.

69 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 211, § 5; 70 Del. Laws, c. 260, §§ 1-3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 133, § 5.;