Theft offences

A theft offence is defined as taking away someone’s personal property without their explicit consent. Personal property need not be tangible, e.g. it can also refer to electric current or information. It has to represent a certain value. Embezzlement and burglary are also covered by the term theft.

A registered crime is a crime laid down in an official police report. Apart from the four types of theft referred to in this publication, Statistics Netherlands distinguishes a large number of other theft offences, e.g. car theft, theft of other vehicles, shoplifting, theft from business premises or service stations, etc.