Theft is often divided into big flight and small flight. If the value of the stolen property exceeds a certain amount determined by state law, the crime may be elevated to the rank of aggravated theft. The nature of the stolen property may affect whether the theft is significant or minor. For example, Section 487 of the California Penal Code states that a major theft is a theft committed when the value of the stolen property exceeds $950 or a car or firearm is taken from among other types of property. Section 488 of the California Penal Code defines petty theft as theft that is not aggravated theft. A major theft can be a felony or misdemeanor, depending on the severity of the theft and the jurisdiction, while minor theft is a misdemeanor. The term “theft” has no established common law meaning. See Crabb v. Zerbst, 99 F.2d 562, 565 (5th cir. 1938).

Instead, this term refers to the crime of theft and has been developed in modern advocacy to expand theft beyond its strict common law definition. See United States v. Maloney, 607 F.2d 222, (9th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 445 U.S. 918 (1980); United States v. Archambault, 441 F.2d 281, 282-83 (10th Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 404 U.S.

843 (1971). Theft, in addition to the general elements, requires proof of the following four specific elements: Theft is the expropriation of another person`s personal property with the intention of depriving him of the use of his property. Also known as theft. See United States v. Barlow, 480 F.2d 1245, 1251 (D.C. Cir. 1972). Theft, like embezzlement, is a crime with specific intent.