Difference Between Theft And Theft

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Individuals have been taught from a youthful age that taking things that do not belong to them is wrong. From first discovering this and growing into young adults’ people become well informed that not only is it wrong but it is considered a crime. The justice system has dictated what makes up a crime and the elements that follow it. It has also outlined how to punish individuals based on the crimes they commit. Sometimes people mistakenly mix up crimes that seem closely related but based on further evidence are obviously different. Two crimes commonly mistaken because they are relatively close in terms is theft and shoplifting. Theft and shoplifting are two crimes that people mix up due to their similar elements and definitions. Shoplifting can be defined as when an individual intends to take items from a location selling goods and intentionally not pay for …show more content…

Shoplifting is considered a type of theft but the punishments are specific and approached differently (PLM Attorneys, 2017). Theft is considered a broader term because it can range depending on the severity of a crime but both theft and shoplifting fall under the category of larceny. Shoplifting and theft are also considered comparable based on “the degree of crime classification depending on the value of the items involved” (RioLearn, 2017). It is clear as to how people can commonly mistake shoplifting and theft because both terms fall under the classification of larceny but when considering further evidence that make up both terms it is evident they are different. Although shoplifting and theft seem close in terms other factors make these two crimes different in many ways. Theft crimes are classified as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the items value. Elements that make up theft are when someone takes an object from an original owner for an extensive period without intending to return the property or compensate

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