# Theft to dacoity in 9 flashcards.

> Theft (s.378) and its punishment (s.379), extortion (s.383), robbery (s.390) and its punishment (s.392), dacoity (s.391, s.395), dishonest misappropriation (s.403) and receiving stolen property (s.411). Plus the illustrations examiners love.

- Topic: Law study
- For: Law students
- A 11-slide carousel: https://failegal.site/media/theft-to-dacoity-in-9-flashcards
- Published by FAI Legal on 2026-10-12

## Quick quiz. The lost ring.

Guess first, then swipe for the answer.

- **A. Yes, theft**
- **B. No, not theft**
- **C. Only above Rs 1,000**

## Answer: B. Illustration (g).

Section 378, PPC.

> "A finds a ring lying on the high-road, not in the possession of any person. A, by taking it, commits no theft, though he may commit criminal misappropriation of property." (Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 · Section 378, Illustration (g))

## Taking. Cards 1 to 3.

Where it starts.

- **Theft** Dishonestly moving movable property out of a person's possession, without consent. (s.378)
- **Punishment** Up to 3 years, or fine, or both. (s.379)
- **Extortion** Putting a person in fear of injury to dishonestly get property. (s.383)

## Force. Cards 4 to 6.

When it gets violent.

- **Robbery** Theft or extortion with instant death, hurt or restraint, or fear of it. (s.390)
- **Punishment** RI 3 to 10 years and fine; up to 14 on the highway. (s.392)
- **Dacoity** A robbery by five or more persons together. (s.391)

## After. Cards 7 to 9.

And what follows.

- **Dacoity** Life, or RI 4 to 10 years, and fine. (s.395)
- **Conversion** Dishonestly converting movable property to own use. Up to 2 years. (s.403)
- **Stolen goods** Receiving or keeping it, knowing it is stolen. Up to 3 years. (s.411)

## Theft or robbery?

Section 390, PPC.

- **The base** In all robbery there is either theft or extortion.
- **Theft becomes** Robbery when force or fear is used to commit it or carry the property away.
- **Extortion becomes** Robbery when the offender is present and the fear is instant.

## Myth or fact?

The phone threat.

- **Myth: "Pay or your child dies" by phone is robbery.**
- **Fact: It is extortion, not robbery, unless the fear is of the child's instant death (s.390, Illustration (d)).**

## Exam traps.

All from section 378.

- **Your own watch** Taking back a watch you pawned, without paying, is theft (Ill. (k)).
- **Good faith** Taking it believing it is yours is not theft (Ill. (p)).
- **A tree** Not theft while attached to the earth; it can be once cut (Expl. 1).

## Revise with FAI.

Ask FAI in your own words. It answers with the exact section and the leading judgments.

- **Difference between theft, robbery and dacoity, with cases.**
- **When does extortion become robbery?**

## Sources

- Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 · Section 378, Illustration (g): Theft

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