Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Practice Exam

Theft of which item is specified as grand theft?

1. A piece of artwork

2. A car tire

3. A fire extinguisher

4. A smartphone

The correct answer is: A fire extinguisher

The determination of what constitutes grand theft often hinges on the value of the item in question. When considering the options provided, a fire extinguisher is typically not viewed as a high-value item. In most jurisdictions, including Florida, grand theft laws focus on items exceeding a specific monetary value, often defined as $300. Although a fire extinguisher can be important for safety, it generally does not have a high market value compared to other items such as artwork, vehicles, or electronics. Therefore, theft of a fire extinguisher would not meet the threshold for grand theft. On the other hand, a piece of artwork and a car tire are generally valued higher and could potentially qualify for grand theft, depending on their individual values. Similarly, a smartphone can also have significant value, especially if it's a recent model. In this context, specifying theft of a fire extinguisher as grand theft does not align with how grand theft is classified based on item value. Hence, while theft of a fire extinguisher is illegal and serious, it does not typically escalate to the level of grand theft as defined by law in Florida.