Which term best describes the unlawful taking of property?

The term that best describes the unlawful taking of property is "theft." Theft encompasses the unlawful act of taking someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of that property. It is a broad category that includes various forms of taking property without the owner's consent.

Robbery, while also involving the taking of property, specifically includes the use of force or intimidation. Burglary refers to entering a building or structure with the intent to commit a crime inside, which may or may not involve taking property. Embezzlement involves the illegal taking of property by someone who has been entrusted with that property, such as an employee misappropriating funds from their employer. Thus, theft is the appropriate term for the general act of unlawfully taking property.