2. Offences against property- Chapter XVII
Theft, Extortion, Robbery and Dacoity are offences in
criminal law affecting the property of a person, defined in
Sections 378 to 402 of the Indian Penal Code.
On a prima facie basis they seem to be very much similar
to each other, but on a closer look it may be found that
there are slight differences which distinguish one from
another.
3. Section 378. Theft.—Whoever, intending to take
dishonestly any movable property out of the
possession of any person without that person's
consent, moves that property in order to such
taking, is said to commit theft.
4. Ingredients:
• Whoever Intending to take dishonestly
• Any moveable property
• Out of the possession of any person
• Without the (express or implied) consent of
that person
• Moves that property in order of such taking
• Is said to commit theft.
5. Section 24 of the Act defines the term dishonestly as “doing
something with the intention of causing a wrongful gain or wrongful
loss”. Therefore only stealing something dishonestly will be
regarded as theft under this section.
