In defense of property, force may be used to prevent theft or damage by whom?

• A. A third party
• B. The government
• C. The property owner
• D. A friend of the offender

Answer: (A)

Defending property allows someone to use reasonable force to stop an imminent theft or intentional damage to property. This defense isn’t limited to the owner alone; a bystander can intervene to protect someone else’s property if the force used is appropriate and proportionate to the threat. The key is that the force is used to prevent the crime, not to punish the offender, and deadly force is generally not justified for property protection. So a third party stepping in to prevent theft or damage embodies this concept: a person other than the owner can legally help defend property when necessary, as long as the intervention remains reasonable.