The main difference between Pilferage and Theft is that the Pilferage is a theft of part of the contents of a package and Theft is a act of taking another's property without permission or consent.
Pilferage
Pilferage is the theft of part of the contents of a package. It may also include theft of the contents but leaving the package, perhaps resealed with bogus contents. Small packages can be pilfered from a larger package such as a shipping container. Broader and related aspects of theft may include taking the entire package, pallet load, truck load, shoplifting, etc.
Theft
In common usage, theft is the taking of another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting, library theft, and fraud (that is, obtaining money under false pretenses). In some jurisdictions, theft is considered to be synonymous with larceny; in others, theft has replaced larceny. Someone who carries out an act of or makes a career of theft is known as a thief. The act of theft is also known by other terms such as stealing, thieving, and filching. Theft is the name of a statutory offence in California, Canada, England and Wales, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the Australian states of South Australia and Victoria.
Pilferage (noun)
The recurrent theft of small items of little value.
Theft (noun)
The act of stealing property.
Pilferage (noun)
the action of stealing things of little value
"surveillance practices reduce theft and pilferage in the workplace"
"the pilferage of food is widespread"
Theft (noun)
the action or crime of stealing
"the latest theft happened at a garage"
"he was convicted of theft"
Theft (noun)
The act of stealing; specifically, the felonious taking and removing of personal property, with an intent to deprive the rightful owner of the same; larceny.
Theft (noun)
The thing stolen.
Pilferage (noun)
the act of stealing small amounts or small articles
Theft (noun)
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully;
"the thieving is awful at Kennedy International"
