When is the act of theft deemed complete?

The act of theft is deemed complete when the object is moved or made movable. This means that the essential element of theft involves taking someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. It is the physical act of moving the property or making it possible to move that signifies the completion of the theft.

This completion does not depend on the awareness of the owner or the planning by the thief. Even if the owner is unaware of the theft at the time it occurs or if the thief has not fully completed their plan, the act is still considered complete once the object has been taken away or manipulated in such a way that it can be further taken. Similarly, being caught does not determine the completion of the theft, as the act becomes complete irrespective of the thief's subsequent actions or any apprehension. Thus, the focus remains on the physical act of the property being moved.