1
as in robberies
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 thefts
As the political philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) wrote in his magnum opus Leviathan, there would be no culture, no navigation, no knowledge of the face of the earth, no arts, no letters, no society; instead, there would be rapes, thefts, murders, and continual fear of violence.
—
George G. Szpiro, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
This includes shoplifting, which dropped by nearly 3%; thefts from vehicles falling by 31%; and thefts of motor vehicle parts decreasing by about 27%, the report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
Investigators allege Gonzalez wrote checks to herself from HOA accounts over an extended period and concealed the thefts by creating fictitious invoices and false ledger entries.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
The commissioner also gave warnings about spiked drinks and an increase in phone thefts, telling students to watch their drinks and their phones.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Authorities in San Mateo County on Monday announced the arrest of an East Bay man in connection with at least a dozen copper thefts throughout the Peninsula.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
The surge in thefts comes as the price of copper rose sharply last year.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
As news of car thefts from city garages spreads, some operators say demand is falling.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The classification of some minor thefts as Estes robberies raises questions about the reliability of the LAPD’s crime figures, which have come under scrutiny in years past.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
George G. Szpiro, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
This includes shoplifting, which dropped by nearly 3%; thefts from vehicles falling by 31%; and thefts of motor vehicle parts decreasing by about 27%, the report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
Investigators allege Gonzalez wrote checks to herself from HOA accounts over an extended period and concealed the thefts by creating fictitious invoices and false ledger entries.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
The commissioner also gave warnings about spiked drinks and an increase in phone thefts, telling students to watch their drinks and their phones.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Authorities in San Mateo County on Monday announced the arrest of an East Bay man in connection with at least a dozen copper thefts throughout the Peninsula.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
The surge in thefts comes as the price of copper rose sharply last year.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
As news of car thefts from city garages spreads, some operators say demand is falling.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The classification of some minor thefts as Estes robberies raises questions about the reliability of the LAPD’s crime figures, which have come under scrutiny in years past.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thefts
Noun
-
The robberies at the Trousdale and Kirkeby homes occurred almost exactly one month apart, on November 2 and December 8 in 1961, respectively.—
Jennifer Cannon,
Vanity Fair,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In a March 27, 2026, indictment by a grand jury, Cindy Burdine is accused of staging fake robberies of her Boulder dance studio, Kenesis Dance, and committing insurance fraud.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Swalwell denied the allegations, only to drop out of the race shortly after, leaving the group’s endorsement up for grabs.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The position remains up for grabs because of inconsistency.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thefts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thefts. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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