Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] stelen, from [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] stelan; akin to Old High German stelan to steal

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] stelen, from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] stelan; akin to Old High German stelan to steal

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: to take the [[property]] of another [[wrong]]fully and especially as a [[habitual]] or regular [[practice]]

*1: to take the [[property]] of another [[wrong]]fully and especially as a [[habitual]] or regular [[practice]]

*2: to come or go [[secretly]], unobtrusively, [[gradually]], or unexpectedly  

*2: to come or go [[secretly]], unobtrusively, [[gradually]], or unexpectedly  

==Description==

==Description==

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_law criminal law], '''theft''' is the illegal taking of another [[person]]'s [[property]] without that [[person]]'s freely-given [[consent]]. The [[word]] is also used as an informal shorthand term for some [[crimes]] against [[property]], such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burglary burglary], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embezzlement embezzlement], larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting, [[fraud]] and sometimes [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_conversion criminal conversion]. In some [[jurisdictions]], theft is [[considered]] to be synonymous with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larceny larceny]; in others, theft has replaced larceny.

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_law criminal law], '''theft''' is the illegal taking of another [[person]]'s [[property]] without that [[person]]'s freely-given [[consent]]. The [[word]] is also used as an informal shorthand term for some [[crimes]] against [[property]], such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burglary burglary], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embezzlement embezzlement], larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting, [[fraud]] and sometimes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_conversion criminal conversion]. In some [[jurisdictions]], theft is [[considered]] to be synonymous with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larceny larceny]; in others, theft has replaced larceny.

Someone who carries out an act of or makes a [[career]] of theft is known as a thief, and the [[act]] of theft is known as stealing, thieving, or sometimes filching.

Someone who carries out an act of or makes a [[career]] of theft is known as a thief, and the [[act]] of theft is known as stealing, thieving, or sometimes filching.

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actus_reus actus reus] of theft is usually defined as an unauthorized taking, keeping or using of another's [[property]] which must be accompanied by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_rea mens rea] of dishonesty and/or the [[intent]] to permanently deprive the owner or the [[person]] with rightful [[possession]] of that [[property]] or its use.

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actus_reus actus reus] of theft is usually defined as an unauthorized taking, keeping or using of another's [[property]] which must be accompanied by a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_rea mens rea] of dishonesty and/or the [[intent]] to permanently deprive the owner or the [[person]] with rightful [[possession]] 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 [[realizes]] the mistake when she gets [[home]] and could return the scarf to Y, she will steal the scarf if she dishonestly keeps it. Note that there may be civil liability for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort torts] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trespass_to_chattels trespass to chattels] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_(law) conversion] in either [[eventuality]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stealing]

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 [[realizes]] the mistake when she gets [[home]] and could return the scarf to Y, she will steal the scarf if she dishonestly keeps it. Note that there may be civil liability for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort torts] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trespass_to_chattels trespass to chattels] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_(law) conversion] in either [[eventuality]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stealing]

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Law]]