In theft, permanently deprive means?

• A. to take property intending to borrow it temporarily
• B. to take property without the owner's knowledge
• C. to take the property with the intention to permanently deprive the owner of it
• D. to damage or destroy the property while keeping it

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is the intent element in theft: you must have the purpose to permanently deprive the owner of the property. Permanently deprive means acting as if the property is yours to keep or dispose of, so the owner will not get it back. If you intend only to borrow temporarily or to use it and then return it, that lacks the permanent-deprivation mindset that theft requires.

Taking property with the intention to permanently deprive the owner of it directly expresses that mindset, which is why it fits the definition of theft. The other options miss that essential element: borrowing for a short time isn’t enough to show permanent deprivation; taking without the owner’s knowledge doesn’t address the deprivation intention; damaging or destroying the property while keeping it doesn’t necessarily articulate an intent to deprive the owner permanently (it could describe a different offense or an unclear scenario).