A petty crime is a minor criminal offense, usually involving the unlawful taking of property or money. The two most common examples of petty crimes are LARCENY and THEFT. LARCENY is the unlawful taking of another person's property without their consent, while THEFT is the act of taking something that does not belong to you without permission. Both of these offenses are considered petty crimes and can result in fines or jail time depending on the severity of the offense.