Theft

Theft (in legal par1ance, LARCENY) is the felonious taking and carrying away of the personal goods of anyone from his or her possession with intent to convert them to the use of the offender without the consent of the true owner. Larceny was formerly distinguished into grand and petty larceny, the former including the stealing of goods above the value of 12d., the latter of that value or under. This distinction was abolished by a statute passed in the reign of George IV and now all larcenies are subject to the same incidents as grand larceny. Larceny is sometimes simple and compound, the former being goods only, the latter larceny from the person or habitation of the owner. The law, regarding this offence is now consolidated by the 24 and 25 Vict., ch. 96, which renders also many things (both animate, and inanimate) the subjects of larceny, which for several reasons were not so prior to that Act.