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# theft

noun (theft, a theft, thefts)

«theft» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Theft is the crime of stealing, taking something that belongs to someone else without permission and without meaning to give it back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#m1)
2. A theft is one act of stealing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#m2)

### In the lessons

In lessons about right and wrong and the law, theft is a crime; a person who steals is a thief. In safety lessons children learn to keep valuables safe and to tell an adult or the police about a theft. «Identity theft» is when someone steals another person's personal details online. Phrases: «car theft», «identity theft», «report a theft», «petty theft».

### Examples

- The theft of the bike was reported to the police. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#x1)
- Theft is against the law. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#x2)
- There has been a theft from the changing rooms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#x3)
- Identity theft can happen online. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#x4)
- Lock your bike to prevent theft. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#x5)
- The museum was closed after the theft of a painting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#x6)
- Shoplifting is a kind of theft. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#x7)
- On discovering the theft, he beat his breast and loudly bewailed his loss. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/#x8)

### Note

Plural: thefts. Related: thief (person, plural thieves), steal (verb: steal, stole, stolen). Borrowing with permission is not theft. «Finders keepers» is not a law — taking something you found that belongs to someone else can be theft.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it can also mean the stolen animal itself, and a thief must repay double or more, or be sold if he cannot pay.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis read these laws as stressing that the thief must make up the loss to the victim.

### Examples

- If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double. (Torah EXO.22.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/theft/#x1)
- If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him — he shall make restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. (Torah EXO.22.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/theft/#x2)

### Note

Plural: thefts. Related: thief (person, plural thieves), steal (verb: steal, stole, stolen). Borrowing with permission is not theft. «Finders keepers» is not a law — taking something you found that belongs to someone else can be theft.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «theft» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/theft/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«theft» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/theft.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «theft» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/theft/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«theft» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/theft.html) on Mova free.