theft
stealing
[C/U] Both
pl: thefts
This term focuses on the criminal act of taking possession of property without permission. It carries a strong legal and moral weight, positioning the action as a violation of ownership and trust. While stealing is the action, theft is the categorization of that action as a crime.
In common usage, it is often paired with adjectives like petty or grand to distinguish the scale of the crime. It differs from robbery in that theft does not necessarily involve force or threats; it can be a silent, stealthy act of disappearance.
Countable when referring to a single criminal incident, such as a bicycle theft. Uncountable when discussing the general phenomenon of stealing as a social issue.