What defines grand theft?

Grand theft is classified as the unlawful taking of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive them of it, where the value of that property exceeds a certain threshold. In many jurisdictions, this threshold is set at $300, meaning that if the value of the stolen property is over this amount, the crime is categorized as grand theft. This distinction is significant because it generally results in more severe penalties compared to lesser forms of theft, such as petty theft, which pertains to property valued below that amount.

The other choices are not aligned with the legal definition of grand theft. For instance, theft of property valued under $300 pertains to petty theft, while theft involving violence is categorized as a different crime, such as robbery. Lastly, theft of small merchandise items also typically relates to petty theft, which does not meet the criteria for grand theft. Therefore, understanding the value threshold is critical in distinguishing between these categories of theft.