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.

---

Other Word Forms

• petty thief noun

Example Sentences

The play was an astonishment in how it transformed its petty theft of a single, little-regarded line of dialogue from “Hamlet” into a formidably funny riff on the absurdity and smallness of life, the grim inevitability of death and, not incidentally, the strange magic by which theater can make sense—or expose the senselessness—of existence.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jose Antonio Garcia, 38, of Long Beach, was arrested and charged Friday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office with one felony count of misappropriation of public funds, one felony count of grand theft by embezzlement and two misdemeanor counts of petty theft.

From Los Angeles Times

But Gonzalez said he told ICE hiring officials that he had a 10-year-old felony on his record for petty theft and he was told he wouldn’t qualify for the position.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

He said they inquired about her immigration status, which led to their discovery that she had been convicted of petty theft in 2005.

From Los Angeles Times