petty theft

American  

[pet-ee theft] / ˈpɛt i ˈθɛft /

noun

plural

petty thefts

1. theft involving a small amount of money or items of little value.

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Other Word Forms

• petty thief
  noun

Example Sentences

Ortega pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of petty theft in 2023.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2025

The sheriff’s office did not name the newspaper theft suspect in its statement, but The Plaindealer said the office had cited Paul Choate, 41, on suspicion of petty theft.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2024

“This does not include general retail crimes like petty theft, shoplifting or poverty-driven crimes,” the AG’s office said in a news release.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2022

Jean Lugo Romero, 40, pleaded guilty to felony grand theft and misdemeanor petty theft and will serve one year of probation in addition to the prison time, according to District Attorney Chesa Boudin’s office.

From Washington Times • Apr. 5, 2022

In the six months of the fair the Columbian Guard made only 2,929 arrests, about sixteen per day, typically for disorderly conduct, petty theft, and pickpocketing, with pickpockets most favoring the fair’s always-crowded aquarium.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson