Theft is a crime that involves the taking of another person’s property without their consent. It can be punishable by imprisonment up to 10 years. The act of theft must be accompanied by a mens rea of dishonesty and an intention to permanently deprive the owner or rightful possessor of that property or its use. Theft is also known as larceny.
There are different types of theft charges depending on the severity of the crime, whether it’s a misdemeanor or felony, and the amount of property stolen. For example, if the stolen property is worth more than $5000 it’s classified as grand theft and a felony. If it’s worth less than that amount and it’s not a firearm, an automobile or an incendiary device then it’s classified as petty theft. The law also takes into account the method used to take the property, whether it was concealed or not, and the intent of the thief.
Legal systems based on common law traditionally distinguished between theft and fraud, a distinction that is still preserved in some jurisdictions. However, it is now generally viewed that the two crimes are not mutually exclusive. Theft may be accompanied by other criminal offenses such as embezzlement (taking money that has been legally entrusted to you) or burglary (breaking and entering a property with the intention of stealing). Many legal systems have now added a category for the taking of modern forms of property such as computer passwords or information, which is known as cyber theft.
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