Pillage vs Theft - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between pillage and theft

is that pillage is the spoils of war while theft is the act of stealing property.

is (ambitransitive) to loot or plunder by force, especially in time of war.

(pillag)

(ambitransitive) To loot or plunder by force, especially in time of war.

* 1911 , ,

Archibald V. (1361-1397) was Count of Perigord. He was nominally under the lilies [France], but he pillaged indiscriminately in his county.

(-)

The spoils of war.

* Shakespeare

Which pillage they with merry march bring home.

The act of pillaging.

(m)

looting

(wikipedia theft)

(en noun)

The act of stealing property.

* petty theft