Police Dispatcher Practice Test

Which term refers to the unlawful taking of someone else's property?

1. Burglary

2. Robbery

3. Theft

4. Fraud

The correct answer is: Theft

The term that refers to the unlawful taking of someone else's property is theft. Theft involves the intentional taking of another person's property without their consent and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. This offense does not necessarily involve force or intimidation; rather, the focus is on the act of taking property unlawfully. Burglary, on the other hand, refers to entering a building unlawfully with the intent to commit a crime inside, typically theft, but it encompasses more than just the act of taking property. Robbery involves taking property from a person through the use of force or intimidation, distinguishing it from theft where such force is not required. Fraud involves deception to gain property or money from someone, rather than the straightforward taking of property without consent, as seen in theft. Thus, theft most accurately describes the act of unlawfully taking someone else's property.