In the context of larceny by trick, what does the defendant obtain?

In the context of larceny by trick, the defendant obtains only custody of the property. Larceny by trick occurs when someone uses deception to gain possession of another person's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. This means the property remains legally owned by the victim; the defendant does not gain legal title to the property. Instead, they gain only the right to control the property for a time, which is referred to as custody.

When someone benefits from larceny by trick, such as convincing the owner to hand over property under false pretenses, they are not acquiring ownership but are instead gaining the ability to physically possess the property. Consequently, the true ownership—title—remains with the original owner, and the act focuses on the defendant's intent to misuse that custody for personal gain. Understanding this distinction is key to grasping the principles underlying larceny and theft law, particularly how deception influences the legal ramifications of possession.