Which term refers to the crime of stealing money or property from the person or business who lawfully owns it?

• A. Discrimination
• B. Embezzlement
• C. Emergency
• D. Environmental noise

Answer: (B)

Misappropriation by someone trusted to handle money or property. Embezzlement happens when a person who has lawful possession or control of funds or assets—because of their job or position—uses them for their own benefit or siphons them away instead of returning them to the owner. In hospitality settings, this often involves employees like cashiers, bookkeepers, or managers who handle cash, tip money, or inventory and secretly take some for themselves. The key distinction is the right to possess the assets; embezzlement is about abusing that trust and diverting property that one is supposed to safeguard. Other terms listed describe unrelated issues, whereas embezzlement specifically refers to stealing money or property from the rightful owner by someone entrusted with it.