1
as in robberies
the unlawful taking and carrying away of property without the consent of its owner
while violent crime in the city has decreased dramatically, rates of theft and vandalism have risen slightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of thefts
One of the latest Minneapolis car thefts presented a nightmare for a mom, watching as a stranger drove away with her 3-month-old baby still in the vehicle.
—
Conor Wight, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Police in late March warned of a string of vehicle thefts across the Loop and South Loop.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
According to Barcelona police, pickpocket thefts account for roughly 48 percent of crime in the Spanish city.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
What happens to the art world when there are thefts like these?
—Valeria Vantaggi, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026
Auto burglaries & thefts significantly decreased Auto burglaries, auto theft and other burglaries saw large declines over the past four years, according to police department data.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
The cameras work by snapping photos of passing cars, capturing their license plates and any identifiable features — such as a scratch or a dent — and using that data to help investigate crimes like car thefts, hit-and-runs, kidnappings and homicides.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
The classification of some minor thefts as Estes robberies raises questions about the reliability of the LAPD’s crime figures, which have come under scrutiny in years past.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
The thefts were first noticed and reported to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry in June 2021 after Sony Music Entertainment learned that a cloud account belonging to Upsahl had been compromised.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2025
Conor Wight, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Police in late March warned of a string of vehicle thefts across the Loop and South Loop.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
According to Barcelona police, pickpocket thefts account for roughly 48 percent of crime in the Spanish city.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
What happens to the art world when there are thefts like these?
—Valeria Vantaggi, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026
Auto burglaries & thefts significantly decreased Auto burglaries, auto theft and other burglaries saw large declines over the past four years, according to police department data.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
The cameras work by snapping photos of passing cars, capturing their license plates and any identifiable features — such as a scratch or a dent — and using that data to help investigate crimes like car thefts, hit-and-runs, kidnappings and homicides.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
The classification of some minor thefts as Estes robberies raises questions about the reliability of the LAPD’s crime figures, which have come under scrutiny in years past.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
The thefts were first noticed and reported to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry in June 2021 after Sony Music Entertainment learned that a cloud account belonging to Upsahl had been compromised.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thefts
Noun
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The theft comes as European law enforcement continues to grapple with a surge in high-profile museum robberies.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Detectives believe the group is responsible for several similar robberies in the Bronx and on borough subway trains, a police source with knowledge of the case said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Ciere Boatright, Johnson’s Department of Planning and Development commissioner, said the up-for-grabs inventory is the largest since the vacant lot sale program began in 2022.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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By the tournament’s final night, one spot remained up for grabs.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thefts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thefts. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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