if i were to get a group of 15 or 20 people, pick up a friend's car,
and physically move it to another part of the parking lot (to another
legal parking spot), and the owner of the car got upset and decided to
file charges, what charges could the owner file?  would they be
misdemeanor or felony charges?

---

Clarification of Question by chucky_dogg-ga on 27 Aug 2004 11:55 PDT

this assumes there is no damage done to the car.

---

Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 27 Aug 2004 12:04 PDT

In what state?

---

Clarification of Question by chucky_dogg-ga on 27 Aug 2004 16:15 PDT

arizona

It would depend on whether this person called and reported a stolen
car.  Then the cops could get involved and then, depending on the time
spent, could get upset.

If this is something you want to do, try telling the cops first so
that they understand that this is just a joke and don't have to spend
anytime with it.

It takes the fun out what you want to do.   If you are under 18 years
old, then the cops will not, more than likely, take action - if they
know what's going on right away.

Bad advice. Take my word for it, the police will not participate in
your practical joke and will likley see no humor in it.

You're guilty of theft, along with the 15 or 20 people who
participated, along with conspiracy, possibly trespassing, possibly
disturbing the peace, and possibly vandalism (if damage is done). If
you can pick up a car and carry it somewhere, and a police offer sees
you doing it, he can arrest you. The weight difference between you
picking up a car and some expensive jewelry doesn't matter. Picking up
something that isn't yours is illegal. Oh, and you'd be guilty of a
felony.

Referencing: http://leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=484-502.9

"484.  (a) Every person who shall feloniously steal, take, carry,
lead, or drive away the personal property of another, or who shall
fraudulently appropriate property which has been entrusted to him or
her, or who shall knowingly and designedly, by any false or
fraudulent representation or pretense, defraud any other person of
money, labor or real or personal property, or who causes or procures
others to report falsely of his or her wealth or mercantile character
and by thus imposing upon any person, obtains credit and thereby
fraudulently gets or obtains possession of money, or property or
obtains the labor or service of another, is guilty of theft."