Course: Criminal Law
Larceny is a criminal offense that involves the unlawful taking of another person’s property with the intent to deprive the owner of that property permanently. In the criminal law context, larceny is considered a type of theft and is punishable by law.
The basic elements of larceny in most jurisdictions include:
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- The taking and carrying away of the property of another person;
- The property was taken without the owner’s consent;
- The taking was done with the intent to deprive the owner of the property permanently;
- The taking was done with the intent to steal the property.
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For an act to be considered larceny, the property must be taken without the owner’s consent, meaning that the owner did not give permission for the property to be taken or the permission was obtained by fraud or deception. The intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property can be shown by evidence that the person who took the property had no intention of returning it to the owner.
The severity of a larceny offense may vary based on the value of the property stolen and other circumstances surrounding the crime. Larceny can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the jurisdiction and the value of the stolen property.
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Last Modified: 03/09/2023