What is it called when some intentionally takes property but intends to return it
<p>I placed my ~$600 phone down to go through security, and a school offical picked it up and declared that it would be returned 2 days later. I immediately requested my phone back to no avail. </p>

<p>I did some research and concluded that it is not legally considered stealing because the person intended to return it eventually. However, I do not know what the actual crime is or what legal options I have.</p>

<p>The entire student body entered through the same door but only a bag full (1/5) of phones were stolen. I find it quite irritating because there is a significant amount of personal information on such a device along with the fact that someone boldly walked away with my property.</p>

<p>I got my phone back, but I'm curious about what the technical term for the crime is and any legal options I have.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>a school offical picked it up and declared that it would be returned 2 days later.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Temporary or not, this can larceny. There's a huge body of case law dealing with that sort of situation. I can't readily imagine why would a school official take a phone for two days so let me quote:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>for larceny, one must intend to deprive the owner of the possession of his property either permanently <strong>or for an unreasonable length of time</strong>, or intend to use it in such a way that the owner will probably be thus deprived of his property."</p>
</blockquote>

<p>From <a href="http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-supreme-court/1196383.html" rel="nofollow">http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-supreme-court/1196383.html</a> quoting LaFave and Scott, Substantive Criminal Law (1986) Crimes Relating to Property, § 8.5, p. 357.</p>

texas theft