Theft

Example of theft: only the wheel of thebicycleis left

Paul-Charles Chocarne-Moreau,The Cunning Thief,1931

Theftis when one person or group takes from anotherperson,business,orstateanyobject,money,orinformationwithout permission and does not intend to return it. A person who has been convicted of theft may be called athief.However, the practice of engaging in theft is also calledstealing.There are many different types of theft, such aspickpocketingandshoplifting.Burglaryandrobberyare separate crimes which involve theft.

Stealing is basic and is illegal almost everywhere. Thieves steal things sometimes because they want to have something for themselves, or because they want to sell something formoney.Sometimes thieves will make plans to rob a store, bank, house, or person, and sometimes they will just see a chance to steal something and take it. Some thieves havekleptomania.

When thieves steal things for money, they usually pickcars,electronics,laptops,or other things they can sell easily. Sometimes thieves usepawn shopsto sell things easily to someone who will not ask questions.