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Theft

To steal an item of property.

"Unlawfully appropriating property with intent to deprive the owner of property".

Texas Penal Code, Title 7, ¶31.03

Or:

"Every one commits theft who fraudulently and without colour of right takes, or fraudulently and without colour of right converts to his use or to the use of another person, anything, whether animate or inanimate, with intent

  • to deprive, temporarily or absolutely, the owner of it, or a person who has a special property or interest in it, of the thing or of his property or interest in it;
  • to pledge it or deposit it as security;
  • to part with it under a condition with respect to its return that the person who parts with it may be unable to perform; or
    • to deal with it in such a manner that it cannot be restored in the condition in which it was at the time it was taken or converted.

 "A person commits theft when, with intent to steal anything, he moves it or causes it to move or to be moved, or begins to cause it to become movable.
 
"A taking or conversion of anything may be fraudulent notwithstanding that it is effected without secrecy or attempt at concealment."

Extracted from Criminal Code of Canada, ¶322.

Taken by the law to be synonymous with the now-in disuse term larceny.

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Unless otherwise noted, this article was written by Lloyd Duhaime, Barrister, Solicitor, Attorney and Lawyer (and Notary Public!). It is not intended to be legal advice and you would be foolhardy to rely on it in respect to any specific situation you or an acquaintance may be facing. In addition, the law changes rapidly and sometimes with little notice so from time to time, an article may not be up to date. Therefore, this is merely legal information designed to educate the reader. If you have a real situation, this information will serve as a good springboard to get legal advice from a lawyer.

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