Legal Definitions - steal

To steal means to unlawfully take something that belongs to another person, with the intention of permanently keeping it or depriving the owner of it. This act can occur through various methods, including directly taking property, misusing property that was entrusted to you, or obtaining property through deception.

• Example 1: Direct Taking (Larceny)
  A shopper walks into a department store, picks up a high-end watch, conceals it in their bag, and leaves the store without paying. The store security cameras capture the entire incident.

  Explanation: This illustrates stealing because the shopper unlawfully took personal property (the watch) belonging to the store, with the clear intent to permanently keep it without rightful payment.

• Example 2: Misuse of Entrusted Property (Embezzlement)
  A bookkeeper for a small business is responsible for managing the company's finances. Over several months, the bookkeeper secretly diverts funds from the company's operating account into their personal bank account, fabricating false entries in the ledger to cover their tracks.

  Explanation: This is stealing because the bookkeeper, who was entrusted with the company's money, unlawfully took those funds for personal gain, intending to permanently deprive the business of its assets.

• Example 3: Obtaining Through Deception (False Pretenses)
  An individual creates a sophisticated online scheme, posing as a representative for a legitimate-sounding but entirely fictitious investment firm. They convince several people to "invest" large sums of money, promising high returns, but instead, the individual simply pockets all the funds and disappears.

  Explanation: This constitutes stealing because the individual obtained money (property) from others through deliberate and elaborate deception (false pretenses) about an investment opportunity, with the intent to unlawfully keep the invested funds for themselves.