theft

noun

\ ˈtheft

Definition of theft

1a : the act of stealing specifically : the felonious taking and removing of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it

b : an unlawful taking (as by embezzlement or burglary) of property

2 : a stolen base in baseball

3 obsolete : something stolen

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More About theft

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Examples of theft in a Sentence

The theft of the jewelry and other valuables was immediately reported to the police. He was found guilty of theft.

Recent Examples on the Web He was charged with theft and taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains. — cleveland, 8 Oct. 2021 Police arrested Traynham four days later on July 11 and charged him only with the theft of Atkinson’s car. — Zach Murdock, courant.com, 8 Oct. 2021 Musa was criminally charged that year with theft in connection with $10 million earmarked for housing projects. — Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2021 Brighton Police Chief Larry Woods told the news site multiple people are in custody in connection with the theft. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2021 Dortch has been charged with theft of mail from a U.S. Postal Service collection box and was released on bond, according to court documents. — Jennifer Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 22 Sep. 2021 Alyssa Ludtke, 38, of Waukesha was charged Aug. 20 in Waukesha County Circuit Court with theft from a business setting of more than $10,000, according to court records. — Alec Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2021 More than 55 were charged with entering the Capitol with a dangerous or deadly weapon, while over 35 were charged with destruction of government property and almost 30 were charged with theft of government property, the Department of Justice said. — Clare Hymes, Cassidy Mcdonald, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2021 In 2017, Bonner was one of three men indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the theft of firearms from Scott’s Jewelry and Pawn, which is a licensed firearms dealer in Tarrant. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 5 Aug. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'theft.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.