How is the NY pickpocket statute classified?

The classification of the New York pickpocket statute as Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree is based on the value of the property stolen. In New York, larceny involves the unlawful taking of someone else’s property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. When the value of the property exceeds a certain threshold, specifically $1,000, it constitutes Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree.

Pickpocketing typically involves the theft of property without the owner's knowledge, and given that the value of stolen items in many cases can easily reach or exceed that $1,000 threshold, such thefts fall into this serious category of crime. This classification results in more severe legal consequences compared to lesser forms of theft, such as petty theft, which involves items valued below the set threshold.

The other options reflect different types of offenses that do not align with the specifics of the pickpocket statute. For example, petty theft would pertain to lower-value thefts, while simple assault and burglary refer to different criminal actions that do not involve the unlawful taking of property in the context of theft valued above the specified amount.