Legal Definitions - thief

A thief is a person who takes another individual's property without their permission, with the intention of permanently depriving the owner of that property. This act is typically carried out without the use of physical force or threats against the person from whom the property is taken.

The legal concept of a thief focuses on the unlawful taking of property, often through stealth or deception, rather than through direct confrontation or violence, which would typically fall under different legal categories like robbery.

Here are some examples illustrating the term:

• Example 1: A customer at a grocery store discreetly places a package of expensive cheese into their bag and walks out without paying. The store's security cameras capture the act.

  Explanation: The customer is a thief because they took property (the cheese) belonging to the store without permission, intending to keep it, and did so without using any force or threats against store employees.

• Example 2: An office worker notices a colleague's high-end fountain pen left unattended on a desk. They pocket the pen, intending to keep it for themselves, and later deny ever seeing it.

  Explanation: This worker is a thief because they unlawfully took an item (the pen) belonging to another person, with the clear intent to permanently deprive the owner of it, and did so without any overt violence.

• Example 3: While visiting a friend's house, a guest secretly removes a valuable antique figurine from a display shelf and hides it in their coat, later taking it home.

  Explanation: The guest is a thief because they took property (the figurine) belonging to their friend without permission, with the intention of keeping it permanently, and did so through stealth rather than force.

A common thief refers to an individual who has been convicted of theft or larceny on more than one occasion, indicating a pattern of such unlawful behavior.