9.04.070 Theft.

(a)    It shall be unlawful to commit theft in the City. A person commits a theft when the person knowingly obtains or exercises control over anything of value of another without authorization or by threat or deception with intent to permanently deprive the person having lawful dominion, possession or control of the thing of value of its use or benefit. The Municipal Court shall have jurisdiction where the value of the thing involved is less than $2,000. For purposes of this section, the test of value is the reasonable market value of the stolen article at the time of the commission of the alleged offense. If any person willfully conceals unpurchased goods, wares or merchandise owned or held by and offered or displayed for sale by any store or other mercantile establishment, whether the concealment be on the person or otherwise and whether on or off the premises of such store or mercantile establishment, such concealment shall constitute a presumption that the person intended to commit the crime of theft.

(b)    It shall be unlawful to knowingly transfer a label or other designation of price from one item to another or alter such label or designation of price with intent to purchase such item at a lesser cost.