Also known as: steals · stole · stolen · stealing · theft · larceny
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The unlawful taking of another's personal property with the intent to deprive the owner permanently.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Sophia Singh entered the warehouse after hours and removed a laptop belonging to her employer. She carried the device to her car intending never to return it. The employer discovered the absence the next morning and reported the loss.
Sabrina Shah approached a pedestrian on the street and grabbed his wallet while displaying a knife. The pedestrian surrendered the wallet out of fear. Shah fled with the cash inside after the trespassory taking.
Scott Summers testified for the prosecution. Defense counsel asked whether Summers had previously stolen property from outsiders as part of group rules. The question was allowed to show possible bias from the prior theft acts.
Sterling Manufacturing held a note that had been stolen from its files by an unknown thief. It commenced foreclosure after satisfying the requirements for a lost instrument. The borrower challenged the right to enforce the stolen note.
Serena Soto entered a client's home without permission and removed cash from a drawer. She carried the money away intending never to return it. The client discovered the absence and pursued criminal charges for the taking.
Stephen Shaw removed cash and a weapon from a location without permission and placed them in a new safe deposit box. Police later located the items through independent investigation. Shaw faced charges for the unlawful taking.
Stealing requires a trespassory taking from someone with a superior right of possession. Embezzlement instead requires that the defendant first acquire lawful possession and then convert the property.
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No. Merely moving property or destroying it does not constitute stealing unless the defendant thereby obtains control over the property.
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No. Wrongfully obtaining services does not constitute larceny or stealing at common law.
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Property loses stolen status once law enforcement recovers it with the owner's permission and uses it in an undercover operation.
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…Vignera, and Westover were identified by eyewitnesses. Marked bills from the bank robbed were found in Westover's car. Articles stolen from the victim as well as from several other robbery victims were found in Stewart's home at the outset of the investigation. [^maj-52]: Dealing as we do here with constitutional…