What constitutes theft in legal terms?

The correct answer defines theft as obtaining unauthorized control over someone else's property through deception or threat. This definition encapsulates the fundamental elements of theft, which include the intent to permanently deprive the owner of their property and the act of unlawfully taking or manipulating that property without the owner's permission.

In legal terms, theft is characterized by the absence of consent from the rightful owner, making any act of acquiring property through deceitful means or intimidation a criminal offense. This understanding reflects the principles of criminal law, where the act of theft not only involves taking physical items but also encompasses the methods by which control is obtained, emphasizing the illegal nature of the control exercised over the property.

Other options address related concepts but do not accurately capture the essence of theft. Obtaining control through legal means or with the owner's consent does not constitute theft, as these scenarios involve lawful actions as opposed to illegal appropriation. While stealing items valued over a certain amount may relate to the categorization of charges (such as petty larceny versus grand larceny), the core definition of theft fundamentally rests on the unauthorized control aspect defined in the correct answer.