Dictionary of Law
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theft :: legal definition


Theft - 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 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 is synonymous with "larceny." 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.

See also: burglary embezzlement larceny robbery and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
after-acquired property :: n. 1) personal or real property acquired by a debt ... lso: bankruptcy secured transaction
agency :: n. the relationship of a person (called the agent) ... ondeat superior scope of employment
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
assign :: 1) v. to transfer to another person any asset such ... en shows up in contracts and wills.
attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
burglary :: n. the crime of breaking and entering into a struc ... le. See also: breaking and entering
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
chattel :: n. an item of personal property which is movable, ... ments). See also: personal property
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
common property :: n. 1) real property owned by "tenants in common," ... e, like parks and national forests.
confiscate :: v. to take one's goods or property without legal r ... affic. See also: condemnation theft
conversion :: n. a civil wrong (tort) in which one converts anot ... the crime of theft. See also: theft
covenant :: 1) n. a promise in a written contract or a deed of ... o compete deed restrictive covenant
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment.
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
devisee :: n. a person who receives a gift of real property b ... will. See also: beneficiary legatee
double jeopardy :: n. placing someone on trial a second time for an o ... that occurred thirty years earlier.
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
false arrest :: n. physically detaining someone without the legal ... sment. See also: false imprisonment
foreclosure :: n. the system by which a party who has loaned mone ... ced sale mortgage notice of default
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
future interest :: n. a right to receive either real property or pers ... maturity (age 18) or upon marriage.
grand larceny :: n. the crime of theft of another's property (inclu ... f the loot. See also: larceny theft
grandfather clause :: n. 1) a clause in a statute or zoning ordinance (p ... Such laws are now unconstitutional.
hit and run :: n. the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is invol ... , and then walks back to the scene.
in personam :: adj. (in purr-soh-nam) from Latin for "directed to ... here. See also: in rem jurisdiction
indenture :: n. a type of real property deed in which two parti ... bind a person to work for another.
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy
inverse condemnation :: n. the taking of property by a government agency w ... e also: condemnation eminent domain
invitee :: n. a person who comes onto another's property, pre ... ail employees. See also: negligence
just compensation :: n. 1) in general a fair and reasonable amount of m ... ation make one whole quantum meruit
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
kidnapping :: (also spelled kidnaping) n. the taking of a person ... but now applies to adults as well.
lease :: 1) n. a written agreement in which the owner of pr ... triple net lease unlawful detainer
legatee :: n. a person or organization receiving a gift of an ... eficiary devise devisee legacy will
license :: 1) n. governmental permission to perform a particu ... eement. See also: licensee licensor
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
literary property :: n. the writings of an author which entitles him/he ... as copyrighted. See also: copyright
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
misappropriation :: n. the intentional, illegal use of the property or ... mbezzlement fiduciary larceny theft
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain
non-conforming use :: n. the existing use (residential, commercial, agri ... eneral plan grandfathered in zoning
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
notorious possession :: n. occupation of real property or holding personal ... e is as if the person is the owner.
nuisance :: n. the unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful u ... evening). See also: public nuisance
own recognizance :: (O.R.) n. the basis for a judge allowing a person ... n recognizance. See also: bail O.R.
pardon :: 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or ... also: amnesty commutation reprieve
personal effects :: n. things which include clothes, cosmetics and ite ... e, Susannah"). See also: personalty
petty larceny :: n. a term used in many states for theft of a small ... emeanor in charging and sentencing.
pledge :: v. to deposit personal property as security for a ... ise to do something. See also: pawn
possibility of a reverter :: n. the potential that the title to a real property ... further issue. See also: reversion
pour over will :: n. a will of a person who has already executed a t ... invalid trust. See also: trust will
prescription :: n. the method of acquiring an easement upon anothe ... ty. See also: prescriptive easement
principal :: n. 1) main person in a business. 2) employer, the ... ry agency agent respondeat superior
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
property :: n. anything that is owned by a person or entity. P ... rty real property separate property
property damage :: n. injury to real or personal property through ano ... l value. See also: damages property
quitclaim deed :: n. a real property deed which transfers (conveys) ... also: convey deed grant deed title
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
rental value :: n. the amount which would be paid for rental of si ... alimony to be paid. See also: rent
rights :: n. 1) plural of right, which is the collection of ... evidence. See also: Miranda warning
robbery :: n. 1) the direct taking of property (including mon ... We've been robbed." See also: theft
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
seized :: (seised) n. 1) having ownership, commonly used in ... by force. See also: seisin seizure
self-defense :: n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself ... ndalism. See also: assault homicide
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
servient estate :: n. real property which has an easement or other us ... See also: dominant estate easement
spot zoning :: n. a provision in a general plan which benefits a ... . See also: grandfathered in zoning
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
tax :: n. a governmental assessment (charge) upon propert ... unified estate and gift tax use tax
tenancy in common :: n. title to property (usually real property, but i ... on. See also: joint tenancy tenancy
title :: n. 1) ownership of real property or personal prope ... ink slip real property title search
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
transfer :: n. 1) the movement of property from one person or ... son or shipment to continue travel.
trespass :: n. entering another person's property without perm ... for an illegal purpose is a crime.
use :: n. the right to enjoy the benefits of real propert ... ay it is only of academic interest.
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
witness :: 1) n. a person who testifies under oath in a trial ... lso: deposition evidence trial will

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - T

T.R.O. :: n. legal slang for temporary restraining order. Se ... order. See also: restraining order
tainted evidence :: n. in a criminal trial, information which has been ... e search and seizure search warrant
take :: v. to gain or obtain possession, including the rec ... eal property or stealing an object.
taking the Fifth :: n. the refusal to testify on the ground that the t ... ifth." See also: self-incrimination
tangible property :: n. physical articles (things) as distinguished fro ... operty personal property personalty
tax :: n. a governmental assessment (charge) upon propert ... unified estate and gift tax use tax
tax costs :: n. a motion to contest a claim for court costs sub ... sts" to avoid paying these charges.
Tax Court :: n. a federal agency with courts in major cities wh ... Appeals. See also: court income tax
tax evasion :: n. intentional and fraudulent attempt to escape pa ... o reduce the amount of payable tax.
tax return :: n. the form to be filed with a taxing authority by ... able to the taxpayer. See also: tax
tax sale :: n. an auction sale of a taxpayer's property conduc ... government to collect unpaid taxes.
temporary injunction :: n. a court order prohibiting an action by a party ... ry injunction. See also: injunction
temporary insanity :: n. in a criminal prosecution, a defense by the acc ... diminished capacity insanity intent
tenancy :: n. the right to occupy real property permanently, ... rety tenancy in common tenant title
tenancy at sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
tenancy at will :: n. occupation of real property owned by another un ... right to occupy. See also: tenancy
tenancy by the entirety :: n. joint ownership of title by husband and wife, i ... ee also: community property tenancy
tenancy in common :: n. title to property (usually real property, but i ... on. See also: joint tenancy tenancy
tenant :: n. a person who occupies real property owned by an ... rental payments. See also: tenancy
tender :: 1) v. to present to another person an unconditiona ... he tender. See also: delivery offer