{"id":387596,"date":"2025-12-05T10:31:40","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T15:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/?page_id=387596"},"modified":"2025-12-05T10:21:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T15:21:30","slug":"is-there-a-difference-between-larceny-and-theft","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/is-there-a-difference-between-larceny-and-theft.html","title":{"rendered":"Is There a Difference Between Larceny and Theft?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Is There a Difference Between Larceny and Theft?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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There is a legal difference between larceny<\/span> and theft. Theft is the general term for any unlawful taking<\/span> of another person’s property<\/span> without consent. Larceny<\/span> is a specific type of theft<\/span> that requires physically taking and carrying away someone’s property with intent to permanently deprive them of it. The distinction matters because different theft crimes<\/span>, including shoplifting<\/span>, embezzlement<\/span>, and identity theft<\/span>, carry different penalties.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The legal terms<\/span> \u201clarceny<\/span>\u201d and \u201ctheft\u201d can seem the same, but there are key differences<\/span> between them. Larceny<\/span>, theft, and burglary<\/span> can all refer to the unauthorized taking of\u00a0someone else\u2019s property<\/span>. The terms refer to different types of <\/span>theft<\/span> offenses<\/span> and can include shoplifting<\/span>, embezzlement<\/span>, and fraud.<\/p>\n

Larceny<\/span> vs. Theft<\/h2>\n

In general, theft is the general term<\/a> for any unlawful taking<\/span> of another person\u2019s property<\/span>. Most state laws<\/span> define theft as such, but some consider it interchangeable with larceny<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Larceny<\/span><\/h3>\n

Larceny<\/span><\/a> is a narrower type of theft<\/span>. It specifically defines a type of theft<\/span> where the thief unlawfully takes and carries away the property of another with the intent to permanently deprive them of it. Unlike other theft charges<\/span>, the severity of larceny<\/span> charges<\/span> depends solely on the value of the stolen property<\/span>. Classifications include:<\/p>\n