Theft is the unlawful taking of property that does not belong to the individual. It is an intentional act that occurs without the lawful owner’s consent and it is done for the purpose of permanently depriving the lawful owner of that property. To be convicted of theft, it is not necessary for an individual to have unlawfully entered any structure, used force or threatened to use force.
Theft laws recognize petty theft of property of lesser value and grand theft, which is the taking of property valued at an amount that exceeds an established threshold. Usually, petty theft is a misdemeanor that may lead to light punishments, whereas grand theft is more serious.