What does the term 'stealing' entail?

The term 'stealing' in Missouri criminal law is defined as the wrongful taking of another person's property with the intent to deprive that person of it. This definition emphasizes two critical elements: the act of appropriation (the taking) and the intent behind it (the intention to deprive). It is important to note that for an act to qualify as stealing, there must be a clear intention to permanently or temporarily deprive the owner of their property, which distinguishes it from other actions that may involve handling someone else's belongings without the necessary malicious intent.

For instance, attempting to borrow property without the intent to return it implies that there is some recognition of the original owner's rights, but the intention to steal is what characterizes the act as criminal. Similarly, appropriating property with the intent to return it does not meet the requirement of intending to deprive the owner. Lastly, pawning someone else's possessions involves a third party and does not denote the essence of stealing as defined in Missouri law, since it often includes complicity and the failure to return items after borrowing. Thus, the essence of the definition centers around wrongful taking coupled with a clear intention to deprive the original owner of their rights to the property.