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Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. [1] [2] [3] The word theft is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as larceny, robbery, [1] embezzlement, extortion, blackmail, or receiving stolen property. [2] In some jurisdictions, theft is considered to be synonymous with larceny , [4] [5] while in others, theft is defined more narrowly. [6] A person who engages in theft is known as a thief (pl.thieves). [7]
Theft is the name of a statutory offence in California, Canada, England and Wales, Hong Kong, [8] Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, [9] and the Australian states of South Australia [10] and Victoria. [11]
The actus reus of theft is usually defined as an unauthorised taking, keeping, or using of another's property which must be accompanied by a mens rea of dishonesty and the intent to permanently deprive the owner or rightful possessor of that property or its use.
For example, if X goes to a restaurant and, by mistake, takes Y's scarf instead of her own, she has physically deprived Y of the use of the property (which is the actus reus) but the mistake prevents X from forming the mens rea (i.e., because she believes that she is the owner, she is not dishonest and does not intend to deprive the "owner" of it) so no crime has been committed at this point. But if she realises the mistake when she gets home and could return the scarf to Y, she will steal the scarf if she dishonestly keeps it (see theft by finding). Note that there may be civil liability for the torts of trespass to chattels or conversion in either eventuality.
Possible causes for acts of theft include both economic and non-economic motivations. For example, an act of theft may be a response to the offender's feelings of anger, grief, depression, anxiety, compulsion, boredom, power and control issues, low self-esteem, a sense of entitlement, an effort to conform or fit in with a peer group, or rebellion. [12] Theft from work may be attributed to factors that include greed, perceptions of economic need, support of a drug addiction, a response to or revenge for work-related issues, rationalisation that the act is not actually one of stealing, response to opportunistic temptation, or the same emotional issues that may be involved in any other act of theft. [12] : 438 Grotius and Pufendorf upheld the principle that a person in extreme and unavoidable need, who took from the surpluses of property holders, was not guilty of the crime of theft. [13]
The most common reasons for shoplifting include participation in an organised shoplifting ring, opportunistic theft, compulsive acts of theft, thrill-seeking, and theft due to need. [14] Studies focusing on shoplifting by teenagers suggest that minors shoplift for reasons including the novelty of the experience, peer pressure, the desire to obtain goods that a minor cannot legally purchase, and for economic reasons, as well as self-indulgence and rebellion against parents. [15]
In Buddhism, one of the five precepts prohibits theft, and involves the intention to steal what one perceives as not belonging to oneself ("what is not given") and acting successfully upon that intention. The severity of the act of theft is judged by the worth of the owner and the worth of that which is stolen. Underhand dealings, fraud, cheating and forgery are also included in this precept. [16] [17] Professions that are seen to violate the precept against theft are working in the gambling industry or marketing products that are not actually required for the customer. [18]
The Manusmriti and the Dharmashastras deal with theft, coveting wealth, and punishment for these.
In parts of the world which govern with sharia law, the punishment for theft is amputation of the right hand if the thief does not repent. This ruling is derived from surah 5 verse 38 of the Quran which states As to the thief, Male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in power. This is viewed as being a deterrent. [19] [20]
Two of the Ten Commandments prohibit acts of theft. The New Testament describes Jesus of Nazareth affirming these in his teachings.
South Australia
Theft is defined in section 134 of the Criminal Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) as being where a person deals with property dishonestly, without the owner's consent and intending to deprive the owner of their property, or make a serious encroachment on the proprietary rights of the owner. [10]
Under this law, encroachment on proprietary rights means that the property is dealt with in a way that creates a substantial risk that the property will not be returned to the owner, or that the value of the property will be greatly diminished when the owner does get it back. Also, where property is treated as the defendant's own property to dispose of, disregarding the actual property owner's rights. [21]
For a basic offence, a person found guilty of this offence is liable for imprisonment of up to 10 years.
For an aggravated offence, a person found guilty of this offence is liable for imprisonment of up to 15 years.
Victoria
Theft is defined in the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) as when a person "dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it.". [22] The actus reus and mens rea are defined as follows: Appropriation is defined in section 73(4) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) as the assumption of any of the owner's rights. [23] It does not have to be all the owner's rights, as long as at least one right has been assumed. [24] If the owner gave their consent to the appropriation there cannot be an appropriation. [25] However, if this consent is obtained by deception, this consent is vitiated.
Property – defined in section 71(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) as being both tangible property, including money and intangible property. [26] Information has been held not be property. [27]
Belonging to another – section 73(5) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) provides that property belongs to another if that person has ownership, possession, or a proprietary interest in the property. Property can belong to more than one person. sections 73(9) & 73(10) deal with situations where the accused receives property under an obligation or by mistake. [23]
South Australia
Whether a person's conduct is dishonest is a question of fact to be determined by the jury, based on their own knowledge and experience. As with the definition in Victoria, it contains definitions of what is not dishonesty, including a belief in a legal claim of right or a belief the owner could not be found. [28]
Victoria
Intention to permanently deprive – defined at s.73(12) as treating property as it belongs to the accused, rather than the owner.
Dishonestly – section 73(2) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) creates a negative definition of the term 'dishonestly'. The section deems only three circumstances when the accused is deemed to have been acting honestly. These are a belief in a legal claim of right, a belief that the owner would have consented, or a belief the owner could not be found. [23]
Section 322(1) of the Criminal Code provides the general definition for theft in Canada:
322. (1) Every one commits theft who fraudulently and without colour of right takes, or fraudulently and without colour of right converts to his/her use or to the use of another person, anything, whether animate or inanimate, with intent
- (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;
- (b) to pledge it or deposit it as security;
- (c) to part with it under a condition with respect to its return that the person who parts with it may be unable to perform; or
- (d) to deal with it in such a manner that it cannot be restored in the condition in which it was at the time it was taken or converted. [29]
Sections 323 to 333 provide for more specific instances and exclusions:
In the general definition above, the Supreme Court of Canada has construed "anything" very broadly, stating that it is not restricted to tangibles, but includes intangibles. To be the subject of theft it must, however:
Because of this, confidential information cannot be the subject of theft, as it is not capable of being taken as only tangibles can be taken. It cannot be converted, not because it is an intangible, but because, save in very exceptional far‑fetched circumstances, the owner would never be deprived of it. [30] However, the theft of trade secrets in certain circumstances does constitute part of the offence of economic espionage, which can be prosecuted under s. 19 of the Security of Information Act . [31]
For the purposes of punishment, Section 334 divides theft into two separate offences, according to the value and nature of the goods stolen:
Where a motor vehicle is stolen, Section 333.1 provides for a maximum punishment of 10 years for an indictable offence (and a minimum sentence of six months for a third or subsequent conviction), and a maximum sentence of 18 months on summary conviction.
Section 2 of the Theft Ordinance provides the general definition of theft in Hong Kong:
(1) A person commits theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it; and thief and steal shall be construed accordingly. (2) It is immaterial whether the appropriation is made with a view to gain, or is made for the thief’s own benefit. [8]
The elements of this offence in Hong Kong is almost the same as in England and Wales, because the Theft Ordinance in Hong Kong was drafted based on the Theft Act 1968 (and the Theft Act 1978) in UK. However, the "Ghosh Test" for dishonest in Hong Kong has been replaced by the "Ivey Test" in England and Wales by the Supreme Court. It is the main difference between the offence of theft in these two jurisdictions.
Theft is a criminal activity in India with punishments which may lead to jail term. Below are excerpts of laws of Indian penal Code which state definitions and punishments for theft.
Theft is a crime with related articles in the Wetboek van Strafrecht.
Theft is a statutory offence, created by section 4(1) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. [45]
According to the Romanian Penal Code a person committing theft (furt) can face a penalty ranging from 1 to 20 years. [46] [47]
Degrees of theft:
In England and Wales, theft is a statutory offence, created by section 1(1) of the Theft Act 1968. This offence replaces the former offences of larceny, embezzlement and fraudulent conversion. [48]
The marginal note to section 1 of the Theft Act 1968 describes it as a "basic definition" of theft. Sections 1(1) and (2) provide:
Sections 2 to 6 of the Theft Act 1968 have effect as regards the interpretation and operation of section 1 of that Act. Except as otherwise provided by that Act, sections 2 to 6 of that Act apply only for the purposes of section 1 of that Act. [49]
Section 3 provides:
(1) Any assumption by a person of the rights of an owner amounts to an appropriation, and this includes, where he has come by the property (innocently or not) without stealing it, any later assumption of a right to it by keeping or dealing with it as owner. (2) Where property or a right or interest in property is or purports to be transferred for value to a person acting in good faith, no later assumption by him of rights which he believed himself to be acquiring shall, by reason of any defect in the transferor’s title, amount to theft of the property.
See R v Hinks and Lawrence v Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Section 4(1) provides that:
"Property" includes money and all other property, real or personal, including things in action and other intangible property.
Edward Griew said that section 4(1) could, without changing its meaning, be reduced, by omitting words, to:
"Property" includes … all … property. [50]
Sections 4(2) to (4) provide that the following can only be stolen under certain circumstances:
Intangible property
Confidential information [51] and trade secrets [52] are not property within the meaning of section 4.
The words "other intangible property" include export quotas that are transferable for value on a temporary or permanent basis. [53]
Electricity
Electricity cannot be stolen. It is not property within the meaning of section 4 and is not appropriated by switching on a current. [54] Cf. the offence of abstracting electricity under section 13.
Section 5 "belonging to another" requires a distinction to be made between ownership, possession and control:
So if A buys a car for cash, A will be the owner. If A then lends the car to B Ltd (a company), B Ltd will have possession. C, an employee of B Ltd then uses the car and has control. If C uses the car in an unauthorised way, C will steal the car from A and B Ltd. This means that it is possible to steal one's own property.
In R v Turner, [55] the owner removed his car from the forecourt of a garage where it had been left for collection after repair. He intended to avoid paying the bill. There was an appropriation of the car because it had been physically removed but there were two issues to be decided:
Section 6 "with the intent to permanently deprive the other of it" is sufficiently flexible to include situations where the property is later returned. [56]
Alternative verdict
The offense created by section 12(1) of the Theft Act 1968 (TWOC) is available an alternative verdict on an indictment for theft. [57]
Visiting forces
Theft is an offence against property for the purposes of section 3 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952. [58]
Mode of trial and sentence
Theft is triable either way. [59] A person guilty of theft is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years, [60] or on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding the prescribed sum, or to both. [61]
Aggravated theft
The only offence of aggravated theft is robbery, contrary to section 8 of the Theft Act 1968. [62]
Stolen goods
For the purposes of the provisions of the Theft Act 1968 which relate to stolen goods, goods obtain in England or Wales or elsewhere by blackmail or fraud are regarded as stolen, and the words "steal", "theft" and "thief" are construed accordingly. [63]
Sections 22 to 24 and 26 to 28 of the Theft Act 1968 contain references to stolen goods.
Handling stolen goods
The offence of handling stolen goods, contrary to section 22(1) of the Theft Act 1968, can only be committed "otherwise than in the course of stealing". [64]
Similar or associated offences
According to its title, the Theft Act 1968 revises the law as to theft and similar or associated offences. See also the Theft Act 1978.
In Northern Ireland, theft is a statutory offence, created by section 1 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969. [65]
In the United States, crimes must be prosecuted in the jurisdiction in which they occurred. [66] Although federal and state jurisdiction may overlap, even when a criminal act violates both state and federal law, in most cases only the most serious offenses are prosecuted at the federal level. [67]
The federal government has criminalised certain narrow categories of theft that directly affect federal agencies or interstate commerce. [68] The Model Penal Code, promulgated by the American Law Institute to help state legislatures update and standardise their laws, [69] includes categories of theft by unlawful taking or by unlawfully disposing of property, theft by deception (fraud), theft by extortion, theft by failure to take measures to return lost or mislaid or mistakenly delivered property, theft by receipt of stolen property, theft by failing to make agreed disposition of received funds, and theft of services. [70]
Although many U.S. states have retained larceny as the primary offense, [71] some have now adopted theft provisions.
Grand theft, also called grand larceny , is a term used throughout the United States designating theft that is large in magnitude or serious in potential penological consequences. Grand theft is contrasted with petty theft, also called petit theft, that is of smaller magnitude or lesser seriousness.
Theft laws, including the distinction between grand theft and petty theft for cases falling within its jurisdiction, vary by state. This distinction is established by statute, as are the penological consequences. [72] Most commonly, statutes establishing the distinction between grand theft and petty theft do so on the basis of the value of the money or property taken by the thief or lost by the victim, with the dollar threshold for grand theft varying from state to state. Most commonly, the penological consequences of the distinction include the significant one that grand theft can be treated as a felony, while petty theft is generally treated as a misdemeanor.
In some states, grand theft of a vehicle may be charged as "grand theft auto" (see motor vehicle theft for more information).
Repeat offenders who continue to steal may become subject to life imprisonment in certain states. [73]
Sometimes the federal anti-theft-of-government-property law 18 U.S.C. § 640 is used to prosecute cases where the Espionage Act would otherwise be involved, the theory being that by retaining sensitive information, the defendant has taken a 'thing of value' from the government. For examples, see the Amerasia case and United States v. Manning .
When stolen property exceeds the amount of $500 it is a felony offense. [74] If property is less than $500, then it is a Class A misdemeanor. [75] Unlike some other states, shoplifting is not defined by a separate statute but falls under the state's general theft statute. [76]
The Alaska State Code does not use the terms grand theft or grand larceny. However, it specifies that theft of property valued at more than $1,000 is a felony whereas thefts of lesser amounts are misdemeanors. The felony categories (class 1 and class 2 theft) also include theft of firearms; property taken from the person of another; vessel or aircraft safety or survival equipment; and of access devices. [77]
Felony theft is committed when the value of the stolen property exceeds $1000. Regardless of the value of the item, if it is a firearm or an animal taken for the purpose of animal fighting, then the theft is a Class 6 Felony. [78]
The Theft Act of 1927 consolidated a variety of common law crimes into theft. The state now distinguishes between two types of theft, grand theft and petty theft. [79] The older crimes of embezzlement, larceny, and stealing, and any preexisting references to them now fall under the theft statute. [80]
There are a number of criminal statutes in the California Penal Code defining grand theft in different amounts. Grand theft generally consists of the theft of something of value over $950 (including money, labor or property but is lower with respect to various specified property), [81] Theft is also considered grand theft when more than $250 in crops or marine life forms are stolen, “when the property is taken from the person of another,” or when the property stolen is an automobile, farm animal, or firearm. [82]
Petty theft is the default category for all other thefts. [83]
Grand theft is punishable by up to a year in jail or prison, and may be charged (depending upon the circumstances) as a misdemeanor or felony, [84] while petty theft is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or imprisonment not exceeding six months in jail or both. [85]
In general, any property taken that carries a value of more than $750 can be considered grand theft in certain circumstances. [86]
In Georgia, when a theft offense involves property valued at $500 or less, the crime is punishable as a misdemeanor. Any theft of property determined to be exceeding $500 may be treated as grand theft and charged as a felony. [87]
Theft in the first or second degree is a felony. Theft in the first degree means theft above $20,000 or of a firearm or explosive; or theft over $300 during a declared emergency. [88] Theft in the second degree means theft above $750, theft from the person of another, or agricultural products over $100 or aquacultural products from an enclosed property. [89]
Theft is a felony if the value of the property exceeds $300 or the property is stolen from the person of another. Thresholds at $10,000, $100,000, and $500,000 determine how severe the punishment can be. The location from which property was stolen is also a factor in sentencing. [90]
KRS 514.030 states that theft by unlawful taking or disposition is generally a Class A misdemeanor unless the items stolen are a firearm, anhydrous ammonia, a controlled substance valued at less than $10,000 or any other item or combination of items valued $500 or higher and less than $10,000 in which case the theft is a Class D felony. Theft of items valued at $10,000 or higher and less than $1,000,000 is a Class C felony. Theft of items valued at $1,000,000 or more is a Class B felony, as is first offense theft of anhydrous ammonia for the express purpose of manufacturing methamphetamines in violation of KRS 218A.1432. In the latter case, subsequent offenses are a Class A felony. [91]
In Massachusetts, theft may generally be charged as a felony if the value of stolen property is greater than $250. [92]
Stealing is a felony if the value of stolen property exceeds $500. It is also a felony if "The actor physically takes the property appropriated from the person of the victim" or the stolen property is a vehicle, legal document, credit card, firearm, explosive, U.S. flag on display, livestock animal, fish with value exceeding $75, captive wildlife, controlled substance, or anhydrous ammonia. [93] Stealing in excess of $25,000 is usually a class B felony (sentence: 5–15 years), [94] while any other felony stealing (not including the felonies of burglary or robbery) that does not involve chemicals is a class C felony (sentence: up to 7 years). Non-felony stealing is a class A misdemeanor (sentence: up to 1 year).
Grand larceny consists of stealing property with a value exceeding $1000; or stealing a public record, secret scientific material, firearm, credit or debit card, ammonia, telephone with service, or motor vehicle or religious item with value exceeding $100; or stealing from the person of another or by extortion or from an ATM. The degree of grand larceny is increased if the theft was from an ATM, through extortion involving fear, or involved a value exceeding the thresholds of $3,000, $50,000, or $1,000,000. [95]
Grand Larceny: Value of goods exceed $900 (13 V.S.A. § 2501)
Grand Larceny: Value of goods exceed $1000 (Virginia Code § 18.2-95)
Theft of goods valued between $750 and $5000 is second-degree theft, a Class C felony. [96] Theft of goods valued above $5000, of a search-and-rescue dog on duty, of public records from a public office or official, of metal wire from a utility, or of an access device, is a Class B felony, [97] as is theft of a motor vehicle [98] or a firearm. [99]
In the British West Indies, especially Grenada, there have been a spate of large-scale thefts of tons of sand from beaches. [100] Both Grenada and Jamaica are considering increasing fines and jail time for the thefts. [100]
The following are countries with their respective rates of theft per 100,000 people, according to the United Nations in last available year. Such statistics are difficult to compare usefully because of large variations in the proportion of thefts reported to police, and how reported crimes are statistically compiled. [101]
Country | Reported annual per 100,000 [101] | Year |
---|---|---|
Albania | 86.5 | 2022 |
Algeria | 125.4 | 2015 |
Andorra | 1457.9 | 2015 |
Antigua and Barbuda | 1066.5 | 2022 |
Argentina | 684.9 | 2022 |
Armenia | 250.2 | 2018 |
Australia | 2027.6 | 2022 |
Austria | 1086.6 | 2022 |
Azerbaijan | 18.3 | 2020 |
Bahamas | 433.7 | 2022 |
Bahrain | 684.3 | 2008 |
Bangladesh | 9.1 | 2006 |
Barbados | 399.8 | 2022 |
Belarus | 418.1 | 2014 |
Belgium | 1347.2 | 2020 |
Belize | 23.9 | 2022 |
Bermuda | 2143.7 | 2016 |
Bhutan | 40.6 | 2020 |
Bolivia | 26.9 | 2020 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 95.5 | 2022 |
Botswana | 1312.0 | 2014 |
Brazil | 630.8 | 2020 |
Brunei Darussalam | 304.7 | 2006 |
Bulgaria | 416.5 | 2022 |
Burundi | 7.7 | 2014 |
Cabo Verde | 600.3 | 2018 |
Cameroon | 70.8 | 2015 |
Canada | 1369.2 | 2022 |
Chile | 602.6 | 2022 |
Colombia | 885.1 | 2022 |
Costa Rica | 520.0 | 2022 |
Croatia | 275.1 | 2022 |
Cyprus | 49.0 | 2022 |
Czech Republic | 331.4 | 2022 |
Denmark | 2492.5 | 2022 |
Dominica | 1279.9 | 2022 |
Dominican Republic | 25.1 | 2022 |
Ecuador | 110.0 | 2022 |
Egypt | 97.7 | 2011 |
El Salvador | 144.8 | 2022 |
England and Wales | 2694.9 | 2018 |
Estonia | 605.3 | 2022 |
Eswatini | 1956.4 | 2004 |
Finland | 2252.9 | 2022 |
France | 2062.8 | 2022 |
Georgia | 253.2 | 2014 |
Germany | 1252.1 | 2022 |
Greece | 684.9 | 2022 |
Grenada | 2162.8 | 2022 |
Guatemala | 170.8 | 2020 |
Guinea | 14.1 | 2007 |
Guinea-Bissau | 57.2 | 2014 |
Guyana | 364.2 | 2022 |
Honduras | 25.0 | 2022 |
Hong Kong | 243.8 | 2022 |
Hungary | 487.8 | 2022 |
Iceland | 915.5 | 2022 |
India | 28.9 | 2013 |
Indonesia | 19.8 | 2018 |
Iran | 159.0 | 2004 |
Iraq (Central) | 0.3 | 2020 |
Ireland | 1239.9 | 2022 |
Israel | 533.3 | 2022 |
Italy | 1431.2 | 2022 |
Jamaica | 28.4 | 2022 |
Japan | 299.6 | 2022 |
Jordan | 93.8 | 2022 |
Kazakhstan | 1171.3 | 2015 |
Kenya | 27.2 | 2022 |
Kosovo | 252.8 | 2020 |
Kuwait | 290.8 | 2009 |
Kyrgyzstan | 244.0 | 2020 |
Latvia | 522.0 | 2022 |
Lebanon | 391.2 | 2015 |
Lesotho | 223.8 | 2009 |
Liechtenstein | 645.9 | 2022 |
Lithuania | 350.1 | 2022 |
Luxembourg | 2511.4 | 2022 |
Macau | 151.9 | 2022 |
Madagascar | 0.9 | 2015 |
Malaysia | 140.1 | 2006 |
Maldives | 1667.7 | 2013 |
Malta | 672.1 | 2022 |
Mauritius | 711.1 | 2011 |
Mexico | 245.7 | 2022 |
Moldova | 261.5 | 2020 |
Monaco | 1122.2 | 2016 |
Mongolia | 154.8 | 2020 |
Montenegro | 54.2 | 2022 |
Morocco | 90.5 | 2022 |
Mozambique | 21.1 | 2009 |
Myanmar | 5.6 | 2022 |
Nepal | 4.6 | 2016 |
Netherlands | 1326.9 | 2022 |
New Zealand | 2650.5 | 2020 |
Nicaragua | 178.5 | 2010 |
Nigeria | 13.8 | 2013 |
North Macedonia | 236.7 | 2014 |
Northern Ireland | 1053.8 | 2022 |
Norway | 1827.5 | 2022 |
Oman | 47.3 | 2022 |
Pakistan | 112.8 | 2022 |
Palestine | 20.3 | 2022 |
Panama | 329.8 | 2022 |
Paraguay | 453.8 | 2022 |
Peru | 399.8 | 2022 |
Philippines | 23.9 | 2018 |
Poland | 303.3 | 2022 |
Portugal | 714.3 | 2022 |
Puerto Rico | 311.5 | 2022 |
Qatar | 102.8 | 2006 |
Romania | 301.6 | 2022 |
Russia | 466.6 | 2020 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 1135.2 | 2022 |
Saint Lucia | 810.6 | 2022 |
Scotland | 1511.6 | 2022 |
Senegal | 17.4 | 2015 |
Serbia | 243.4 | 2022 |
Sierra Leone | 172.5 | 2008 |
Singapore | 127.9 | 2022 |
Slovakia | 198.8 | 2022 |
Slovenia | 1016.5 | 2022 |
Solomon Islands | 170.2 | 2008 |
South Korea | 351.8 | 2022 |
Spain | 382.0 | 2022 |
Sri Lanka | 27.8 | 2018 |
St. Vincent and Grenadines | 1111.1 | 2022 |
Sudan | 234.2 | 2008 |
Suriname | 483.6 | 2022 |
Sweden | 2832.2 | 2022 |
Switzerland | 1590.0 | 2022 |
Syria | 16.8 | 2018 |
São Tomé and Príncipe | 10.8 | 2011 |
Tajikistan | 47.1 | 2011 |
Tanzania | 0.3 | 2015 |
Thailand | 43.0 | 2022 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 106.6 | 2020 |
Turkey | 284.2 | 2022 |
Turkmenistan | 28.9 | 2006 |
Uganda | 112.3 | 2016 |
Ukraine | 274.6 | 2020 |
United Arab Emirates | 51.0 | 2022 |
United States of America | 1472.3 | 2022 |
Uruguay | 3385.6 | 2022 |
Vatican City | 0.0 | 2022 |
Zimbabwe | 728.7 | 2008 |
Specific forms of theft and other related offences
...a borrowing or lending of it may amount to so treating it if, but only if, the borrowing or lending is for a period and in circumstances making it equivalent to an outright taking or disposal.
A felony is traditionally considered a crime of high seriousness, whereas a misdemeanor is regarded as less serious. The term "felony" originated from English common law to describe an offense that resulted in the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods, to which additional punishments, including capital punishment, could be added; other crimes were called misdemeanors. Following conviction of a felony in a court of law, a person may be described as a felon or a convicted felon.
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take anything of value by force, threat of force, or by use of fear. According to common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear; that is, it is a larceny or theft accomplished by an assault. Precise definitions of the offence may vary between jurisdictions. Robbery is differentiated from other forms of theft by its inherently violent nature ; whereas many lesser forms of theft are punished as misdemeanors, robbery is always a felony in jurisdictions that distinguish between the two. Under English law, most forms of theft are triable either way, whereas robbery is triable only on indictment. The word "rob" came via French from Late Latin words of Germanic origin, from Common Germanic raub "theft".
Larceny is a crime involving the unlawful taking or theft of the personal property of another person or business. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of England into their own law, where in many cases it remains in force.
Burglary, also called breaking and entering (B&E) and housebreaking, is the act of illegally entering a building or other areas without permission, typically with the intention of committing a further criminal offence. Usually that offence is theft, larceny, robbery, or murder, but most jurisdictions include others within the ambit of burglary. To commit burglary is to burgle, a term back-formed from the word burglar, or to burglarize.
Embezzlement is a term commonly used for a type of financial crime, usually involving theft of money from a business or employer. It often involves a trusted individual taking advantage of their position to steal funds or assets, most commonly over a period of time.
A citizen's arrest is an arrest made by a private citizen – a person who is not acting as a sworn law-enforcement official. In common law jurisdictions, the practice dates back to medieval England and the English common law, in which sheriffs encouraged ordinary citizens to help apprehend law breakers.
In criminal law, property is obtained by false pretenses when the acquisition results from the intentional misrepresentation of a past or existing fact.
Sacrilege is the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object, site or person. This can take the form of irreverence to sacred persons, places, and things. When the sacrilegious offence is verbal, it is called blasphemy, and when physical, it is often called desecration. In a more general sense, any transgression against what is seen as the virtue of religion would be a sacrilege, and so is coming near a sacred site without permission.
The Theft Act 1968 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It creates a number of offences against property in England and Wales.
The Penal Code of California forms the basis for the application of most criminal law, criminal procedure, penal institutions, and the execution of sentences, among other things, in the American state of California. It was originally enacted in 1872 as one of the original four California Codes, and has been substantially amended and revised since then.
The "Bloody Code" was a series of laws in England, Wales and Ireland in the 18th and early 19th centuries which mandated the death penalty for a wide range of crimes. It was not referred to by this name in its own time; the name was given later owing to the sharply increased number of people given the death penalty, even for crimes considered minor by 21st century standards.
The Pakistan Penal Code, abbreviated as PPC, is a penal code for all offences charged in Pakistan. It was originally prepared by Lord Macaulay with a great consultation in 1860 on behalf of the Government of British India as the Indian Penal Code. After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Pakistan inherited the same code and subsequently after several amendments by different governments, in Pakistan it is now a mixture of Islamic and English Law. Presently, the Pakistan Penal Code is still in effect and can be amended by the Parliament of Pakistan.
False accounting is a legal term for a type of fraud, considered a statutory offence in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Possession of stolen goods is a crime in which an individual has bought, been given, or acquired stolen goods.
Property crime is a category of crime, usually involving private property, that includes, among other crimes, burglary, larceny, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, shoplifting, and vandalism. Property crime is a crime to obtain money, property, or some other benefit. This may involve force, or the threat of force, in cases like robbery or extortion. Since these crimes are committed in order to enrich the perpetrator they are considered property crimes. Crimes against property are divided into two groups: destroyed property and stolen property. When property is destroyed, it could be called arson or vandalism. Examples of the act of stealing property is robbery or embezzlement.
Obtaining property by deception was formerly a statutory offence in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
Burglary is a statutory offence in England and Wales.
The Larceny Act 1916 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its purpose was to consolidate and simplify the law relating to larceny triable on indictment and to kindred offences.
Abstracting electricity is a statutory offence of dishonestly using, wasting, or diverting electricity, covered by different legislation in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The law applies, for instance, in cases of bypassing an electricity meter, reconnecting a disconnected meter, or unlawfully obtaining a free telephone call. In Low v Blease [1975] Crim LR 513 it was held that electricity could not be stolen as it is not property within the meaning of section 4 of the Theft Act 1968. In one reported case in 2015 a man was arrested for abstracting electricity by charging his mobile telephone on a train, but was ultimately not charged. Before the Computer Misuse Act 1990 those who misused computers ("hackers") were charged with abstracting electricity, as no other law applied.
The Larceny Act 1861 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It consolidated provisions related to larceny and similar offences from a number of earlier statutes into a single Act. For the most part these provisions were, according to the draftsman of the Act, incorporated with little or no variation in their phraseology. It is one of a group of Acts sometimes referred to as the Criminal Law Consolidation Acts 1861. It was passed with the object of simplifying the law. It is essentially a revised version of an earlier consolidation Act, the Larceny Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 29), incorporating subsequent statutes.