Theft

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/theft

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the legal definition?Unlawful taking of property with intent to permanently deprive the owner
2. What is the historical legal codes?Ancient codes like Hammurabi's established early laws against theft
3. Why is theft a big problem for communities?Theft makes people feel unsafe and can make neighbors not trust each other, which hurts how we all live together.
4. How do laws decide if something is petty or grand theft?Judges look at how much the stolen item is worth and how it was taken to decide if it is petty (small) or grand (big) theft.

Larceny: The unlawful taking and carrying away of another's personal property.
Intent: A person's conscious objective or purpose to commit a specific act.
Jurisdiction: The official power to make legal decisions and judgments in a specific area.
Restorative Justice: A system focused on repairing harm caused by crime through cooperation.