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Simple English definitions for legal terms
single-larceny doctrine
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A quick definition of single-larceny doctrine:
The single-larceny doctrine is a rule in criminal law that says if someone steals multiple things at the same time and place, it only counts as one theft if it was all part of one plan. This means that if the thief intended to steal everything at once, it's considered one crime. However, if they had different intentions for each item, it would be multiple crimes. The thief's intent determines how many crimes they committed.
A more thorough explanation:
The single-larceny doctrine is a principle in criminal law that states that taking different items of property belonging to the same or different owners at the same time and place constitutes one act of larceny if the theft is part of one larcenous plan. This means that if the theft involves essentially one continuous act or if control over the property is exercised simultaneously, it is considered one occurrence of larceny.
For example, if a thief breaks into a house and steals a television, a laptop, and a jewelry box all at the same time, it is considered one act of larceny under the single-larceny doctrine. However, if the thief steals the television on Monday and then comes back on Wednesday to steal the laptop and jewelry box, it would be considered two separate acts of larceny.
The intent of the thief determines the number of occurrences. If the thief had the intention of stealing all three items at the same time, it would be considered one act of larceny. But if the thief had the intention of stealing each item separately, it would be considered multiple acts of larceny.