theft
/θɛft
/noun [mass noun]
The action or crime of stealing: he was convicted of theft [count noun]: the latest theft happened at a garage...
- Other crimes such as burglaries and thefts from cars had decreased, he added.
- Scene of crime officers were alerted to the string of thefts when the crimes came to light on Monday.
- Police say most of the crimes have involved thefts of push bikes or from cars.
Synonyms
robbery, stealing, thieving, larceny, thievery, robbing, pilfering, pilferage, purloining;
shoplifting, burglary;
raid, hold-up;
appropriation, expropriation, misappropriation, embezzlement;
in India dacoity
informal rip-off, smash and grab, snatch
North American informal heist, stick-up
rare peculation, defalcation
Origin
Old English thīefth, thēofth, of Germanic origin; related to thief.