In common usage,
theft is the taking of another person's
property without that person's permission or
consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some
crimes against property, such as
burglary,
embezzlement,
larceny,
looting,
robbery,
shoplifting,
library theft, and
fraud (
i.e., obtaining money under false pretenses). In some jurisdictions, theft is considered to be
synonymous with
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. The act of theft is known by terms such as
stealing,
thieving, and
filching.