1
as in robbery
the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner
while violent crime in the city has decreased dramatically, rates of theft and vandalism have risen slightly
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Recent Examples of theft
The theft happened three weeks before opening night, in a holiday heist that the Grinch himself would admire.
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Maya Eaglin, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
Retail thefts are up 4.3 percent from 2023 on a year-to-date basis, while petty larceny is down 0.3 percent.
—Shayla Colon, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Two other suspects were arrested, bringing the total theft amount to almost $100,000.
—Mollie Markowitz, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
Police eventually identified this violent criminal as Richard Ramirez, a drifter from El Paso, Texas, with a history of drug abuse and auto theft.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for theft 
Maya Eaglin, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
Retail thefts are up 4.3 percent from 2023 on a year-to-date basis, while petty larceny is down 0.3 percent.
—Shayla Colon, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Two other suspects were arrested, bringing the total theft amount to almost $100,000.
—Mollie Markowitz, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
Police eventually identified this violent criminal as Richard Ramirez, a drifter from El Paso, Texas, with a history of drug abuse and auto theft.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for theft
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Cite this Entry
“Theft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theft. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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