Larceny/Theft

Larceny/theft is a type of economic crime that involves the intentional taking of personal, tangible property from the lawful possessor with the intention of keeping the goods. The terms larceny and theft are generally used synonymously to refer broadly to the taking of an item from another with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the item. Larceny/theft is commonly distinguished from robbery, which involves theft by force in a personal contact situation, and from burglary, which involves theft from a dwelling through unlawful entry. Larceny/theft makes up about 60% of all reported crimes in the United States with more than 7 million cases reported each year. This entry focuses on typologies and a criminological theory associated with larceny/theft.