What term describes the wrongful act of taking another's property without consent?

The term that describes the wrongful act of taking another's property without consent is "theft." Theft encompasses a variety of unlawful acts where one person takes another's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. This definition aligns with both criminal law and common legal terminology, highlighting the core element of non-consensual taking.

In this context, burglary refers specifically to entering a building unlawfully with the intent to commit a crime inside, generally associated with theft but not the act of theft itself. Robbery involves taking property from a person through force or intimidation, which elevates the severity of the crime due to the interaction with the victim. Embezzlement, on the other hand, involves the misappropriation of funds or property that one has been entrusted with, rather than outright taking someone else's property without any prior relationship.

Thus, the clarity and breadth of the definition of theft, encompassing various forms of property crime without the consent of the owner, makes it the most accurate term in this scenario.