What is the Difference Between Theft and Extortion?

Theft and extortion are both crimes against property, but they differ in several aspects. Here are the main differences between the two:

1. Definition: Theft involves dishonestly taking someone's movable property without their consent, with the intent to permanently deprive them of it. Extortion, on the other hand, is the act of obtaining property, money, or services from someone by using threats, coercion, or intimidation.
2. Nature: Theft is a crime against property, while extortion relies on intimidation and threats to coerce the victim into cooperation.
3. Presence of Threat: Theft does not involve any threats or coercion towards the victim, whereas extortion relies on the use of threats or intimidation to force the victim into compliance.
4. Subject Matter: Theft is limited to the taking of movable property only, while extortion can involve the taking of both movable and immovable property.
5. Consent: Theft occurs without the consent of the property owner, while extortion involves obtaining consent by fear or intimidation.

In summary, the main difference between theft and extortion is that theft is the act of taking someone else's property without their consent, while extortion is the act of using force or threat of force to compel someone to give up their property under fear of harm or injury.

Comparative Table: Theft vs Extortion

Here is a table highlighting the differences between theft and extortion:

In summary, theft is an isolated act without the use of force or fear, while extortion relies on intimidation to induce compliance. Theft is limited to taking movable property without the owner's consent, while extortion can involve both movable and immovable property. The primary distinction between theft and extortion is the use of force or threat of force in extortion, compared to the absence of such force or threat in theft.