A person commits the criminal offense (crime) of theft—also known as stealing—by unlawfully taking or appropriating the property of another person or entity with the intent to deprive the owner of the property.
Taking or appropriating property is generally unlawful if it is done without the owner's effective consent—for example, if the property was taken by threat, deception, or extortion.
In Georgia, theft is defined under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) § 16-8-2 as the unlawful taking or appropriation of property belonging to another with the intention of depriving the owner of the property. This can include taking property by deception, threat, or extortion, which are all means of obtaining property without the owner's effective consent. The severity of the theft charge in Georgia can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on factors such as the value of the property stolen and the manner in which the theft was carried out. Penalties for theft can include fines, restitution, and imprisonment. Georgia law also recognizes various forms of theft, including shoplifting, theft by taking, theft by deception, and theft by conversion, each with specific elements and associated penalties.