What offense can a person be charged with for keeping a found credit card instead of turning it in?

A person can be charged with theft for keeping a found credit card instead of turning it in because the act of taking possession of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it meets the criteria for theft. When an individual finds a credit card, they have a legal and ethical obligation to return it to its rightful owner or to law enforcement. By choosing to keep the credit card, the individual demonstrates an intention to unlawfully use or retain property that does not belong to them, which constitutes theft.

In this context, while options like fraud and receiving stolen property might have elements that could relate to the situation, they do not directly apply. Fraud typically involves deceit or misrepresentation carried out for personal gain, while receiving stolen property would imply that the person knew the property was stolen at the time they received it. Credit card fraud specifically relates to the misuse of credit cards for fraudulent purchases or transactions. In contrast, simply retaining a found credit card aligns most closely with the legal definition of theft.