What is the broad term used to describe the unauthorized taking of property?

The correct answer is the term "theft," which broadly encompasses the unauthorized taking of property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of its possession. Theft can occur in various forms and does not necessarily involve breaking and entering, which is specific to burglary.

Burglary, while related to theft, specifically refers to entering a property unlawfully with the intent to commit a crime, which may not always directly involve stealing. Embezzlement involves the misappropriation of funds or property by a person in a position of trust, while fraud refers to wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. Both embezzlement and fraud do not fit the general definition of theft, as they involve different elements of deceit or misrepresentation rather than straightforward unauthorized taking.