What best describes the key action in larceny?

The defining action in larceny is characterized by taking someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. This intent is essential to the legal definition of larceny, as it distinguishes the act from other forms of property acquisition that might occur with consent or under different conditions. In larceny, not only must the property be taken without the owner's consent, but there must also be a clear intention to keep the property and not return it. This element of intent is crucial in establishing the criminal nature of the act, differentiating it from scenarios where property may be borrowed or used with the owner's approval or where property is temporarily taken without the intention to steal.

The other actions described, such as taking property with consent, breaking and entering, or threatening someone for property, involve different criminal offenses that do not align with the specific legal definition of larceny.