A crime at common law. The illegal taking of the property of
another with intent to deprive the owner thereof. Definition
from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary Another term for theft.
Although the definition of this term differs from state to
state, it typically means taking property belonging to another
with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the
property. If the taking is not forceful, it is larceny; if it is
accompanied by force directed against a person, it is robbery, a
much more serious offense. Many states differentiate between
petit larceny (usually a misdemeanor, punishable by time in the
county jail) and grand larceny (theft of a large amount,
punishable as a felony in state prison). Definition provided by
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. August 19, 2010, 5:18 pm