how do you explain stealing to a Child?

[archhippy]

Right last night a statuette was stolen from our front garden it is something of a local land mark.many children loved him and i dont know how to explain to them what theft is help!!

[gerry]

you could say someone has taken the statuette without asking permission.

[Miss Zippy]

I think most kids understand that taking something that belongs to another person, without asking their permission, is wrong. It's instilled in us from a young age that it's wrong to pinch your siblings' or your friends' sweets and toys isn't it? I don't think you need to go into the legal minutiae, such as the requirement of mens rea and actus reus!

[katiesara]

Like everything else you tell a child, be truthful, but make it simple. My 5 year old would be told, "someone took our statuette because they wanted it, it was wrong, and now the police will try and help us get it back", subsequent questions would be dealt with in the same way - and rest assured that would generate many questions!!