What best defines a stolen article?

The most accurate definition of a stolen article pertains to items that have been reported by their owner as missing or illegally taken. The correct response indicates that a stolen article is identified based on specific reporting criteria from the owner, not merely by failing to meet other criteria or by being classified as non-valuable.

Items reported by the owner are crucial to the classification of stolen articles because this process provides verifiable evidence that the item was, in fact, taken without permission. This ensures that law enforcement and databases can accurately track and recover stolen property. Definitions relying on any item’s non-compliance with other criteria or its value do not appropriately capture the essence of theft, which revolves around ownership and unauthorized removal. Thus, the focus on the owner's report is essential in defining stolen articles effectively.