What constitutes theft?

The correct answer identifies theft as the act of taking someone else's property with the intent to deprive the owner of it. This definition is rooted in the legal understanding of theft, which involves not just the physical taking of property, but also the intent to permanently or temporarily prevent the owner from regaining their property.

The intent element is crucial; without intent to deprive, the action might not meet the legal criteria for theft. For example, if someone borrows property without permission but intends to return it, it may not be classified as theft because there is no intent to permanently deprive the owner of their property.

This definition differentiates theft from other scenarios, such as robbing a bank, which is more accurately classified as a form of theft but is specifically tied to the use of force or intimidation. Similarly, finding and keeping lost property does not typically constitute theft if the finder has no intent to deprive the original owner and makes reasonable efforts to return the found item. Hence, the focus on intent in the correct answer is what clearly defines theft in a legal context.