What does purse theft involve?

Purse theft is characterized specifically by the act of stealing a handbag or the personal belongings contained within it. This crime typically involves the unlawful taking of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. Handbags often carry valuable items such as wallets, personal identification, and other possessions, making them common targets for theft. Recognizing the nature of purse theft is vital for understanding the broader elements of property crime, law enforcement responses, and preventive measures that individuals can take to secure their belongings.

The other options, while they pertain to related contexts of property management and crime prevention, do not encapsulate the specific act that defines purse theft. Returning found property, reporting lost items, and surveying theft prevention strategies all deal with distinct aspects of property security and law enforcement engagement, but they do not define the actual crime of theft itself.