All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Theft Law and Legal Definition Generally, a person commits the crime of theft of property if he or she: Knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over the property of another, with intent to deprive the owner of his or her property; the crime of stealing. 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'. Theft commonly encompasses by statute a variety of forms of stealing formerly treated as distinct crimes. Grand theft is a felony. Note: Time theft can also apply to the time it takes to: Clean up other people's messes. Personal Interview. Cr. A criminal act in which property belonging to another is taken without that person's consent. 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Criminal Law Videos - IPC Section 378 (Definition of theft) IPC Section 378 defines the offence of theft. to describe a crime that involves taking a persons property without his consent. Delivered to your inbox! It supposedly costs employers huge amounts of money every year. A number of thefts have been reported recently. This word is sometimes used as synonymous with larceny, Theft means robbery, burglary or hold-up, occurring with or without violence or the threat of violence. 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Not to be confused with: burglary – breaking and entering a building with intent to steal. (a) to deprive, temporarily or absolutely, the owner of it, or a person who has a special property or interest in it, of the thing or of his property or interest in it; 3 obsolete : something stolen. The term theft is sometimes used synonymously with Larceny. n. the generic term for all crimes in which a person intentionally and fraudulently takes personal property of another without permission or consent and with the intent to convert it to the taker's use (including potential sale). In the Scotch law, this is a proper and technical word, and What made you want to look up theft? for sake of lucre, without his consent. b : an unlawful taking (as by embezzlement or burglary) of property. Noun The act of fraudulently obtaining and using another person’s identifying information or personal financial documents, such as a credit card or bank account, usually for the purpose of financial gain. What is Identity Theft. Note: Some states categorize all these offenses under a single statutory crime of theft. Theft is a crime that sometimes goes by the title "larceny." It says that whoever, with the intention of taking dishonestly any movable property out of the possession of any person without the consent of that person, moves that property in order to such taking, is said to commit theft. Origin 1995-2000 English. Although robbery (taking by force), burglary (taken by entering unlawfully), and embezzlement (stealing from an employer) are all commonly thought of as theft, they are distinguished by the means and methods used, and are separately designated as those types of crimes in criminal charges and statutory punishments. Alison, Princ. In many states, if the value of the property taken is low (for example, less than $500) the crime is "petty theft," but it is "grand theft" for larger amounts, designated misdemeanor, or felony, respectively. Theft, however, is actually a broader term, encompassing many forms of deceitful taking of property, including swindling, Embezzlement, and False Pretenses. (See: larceny, robbery, burglary, embezzlement). This is probably the one you'll hear the term refer to the most. Someone who commits this crime is called a thief There have been a lot of thefts recently. Burglary is usually considered a felony. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'theft.' but it is not so technical. The following information is a mix of information gathered via an interview with … Also find a similar words the begin with the same characters, end with the same characters, anagrams, reverse anagrams, word scrambles and words with similar letters. In general, intentionally taking something that doesn’t belong to you is theft. Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). How to use identity theft in a sentence. Theft is synonymous with "larceny." signifies the secret and felonious abstraction of the property of another THEFT, crimes. Petty theft is a misdemeanor but may be aggravated by prior convictions. (the act of) dishonestly taking something that belongs to someone else and keeping it: Unfortunately, we have had several thefts in the building recently. definition, penalties, and defenses In Florida, Petit Theft is the taking or using of property valued at under $300 with the intent to deprive the owner of a right or benefit in the property. What Does Data Theft Mean? theft (of something) the crime of stealing something from a person or place. Translate theft into Spanish. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), motor vehicle theft is defined as the taking or attempted taking of a motor vehicle without permission of the owner. car theft; Police are investigating the theft of computers from the company's offices. Definition of Identity Theft. Wheel-clamping has been held to be theft in Scotland, even although the vehicle is not moved by the clamper. Theft A criminal act in which property belonging to another is taken without that person's consent. See the full definition for theft in the English Language Learners Dictionary. Theft is defined as the physical removal of an object that is capable of being stolen without the consent of the owner and with the intention of depriving the owner of it permanently. What is the difference between Theft and Burglary? Theft. Theft is the act of stealing. Ayliffe's Pand. 309. theft. Note: This shows that the burglary is a more serious offence when compared to theft. (the act of) dishonestly taking something that belongs to someone else and keeping it: Unfortunately, we have had several thefts in the building recently. Taking longer breaks at work then your employer allows you to. Find below definitions and meanings of Theft. Data theft is the illegal transfer or storage of any information that is confidential, personal, or financial in nature, including passwords, software code, or algorithms, proprietary process-oriented information, or technologies. Law of Scotl. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. There are three major types of insurance contracts for burglary, robbery, and other theft. Previously there were disputes under … compare burglary, robbery see also grand theft, identity theft, thief An instance of stealing can also be called a theft. robbery – taking the property of a person in his or her presence by violence or intimidation. Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge! In Scots criminal law, the felonious taking or appropriation (or retention) of the property of another without his consent and (in most cases, but not necessarily) with the intention to deprive him of it permanently. Can you correctly identify these flowers? This form of corporate theft is a significant risk for businesses of all sizes and can originate both inside and outside an organization. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe... How well have you been paying attention this month? If we don't currently have any definitions there is a link to check definitions on Google. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? Unlike theft that can take place at a public place, burglary does not take place at a public place like a picnicking spot. (1) A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property … Learn a new word every day. Theft is synonymous with "larceny." Come Back Here With That: 10 Fun Words... “Theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theft. 581 2 Swift's Dig. Send us feedback. The word especially refers to a person who steals in secret and without using force or violence. before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a, Middle English thiefthe, from Old English thīefth; akin to Old English thēof thief. the act of stealing; unlawfully taking and carrying away the property of another; larceny. (q.v.) Definition of theft in English: theft. 250. Theft, however, is actually a broader term, encompassing many forms of deceitful taking of property, including swindling, Embezzlement, and … 322 (1) Every one commits theft who fraudulently and without colour of right takes, or fraudulently and without colour of right converts to his use or to the use of another person, anything, whether animate or inanimate, with intent. Identity theft definition is - the illegal use of someone else's personal information (such as a Social Security number) especially in order to obtain money or credit. As you can see, employee theft is broadly defined as stealing or the use or misuse of various assets of a workplace without permission, regardless of the method used in the theft. In general, the crime occurs when someone takes and carries away someone else's property without permission and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. Although robbery (taking by force), burglary (taking after entering unlawfully), and embezzlement (stealing from an employer) are all commonly thought of as theft, they are distinguished by the means and methods used, and are separately designated as specific types of crimes in criminal charges and statutory punishments. Basic definition of theft.E+W. 2021. noun. 2 : a stolen base in baseball. Data theft is the act of stealing information stored on corporate databases, devices, and servers. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! The thief need not intend to keep the property himself; an intention to destroy it, sell it, or abandon it in circumstances where it will not be found is sufficient. A person who commits theft is called a thief. Theft of property synonyms, Theft of property pronunciation, Theft of property translation, English dictionary definition of Theft of property. 2. Definition of theft. Delete spam. Accessed 2 May. Policies are often sold with the cellphones themselves to cover them for damage or theft. 1 a : the act of stealing specifically : the felonious taking and removing of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The term theft is sometimes used synonymously with Larceny. The action or crime of stealing. 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