Distraint

Distraint is when someone takes away something that they believe belongs to them from someone else. Just like when your friend takes your toy without asking, that is like distraint. However, distraint usually happens when someone owes money or hasn't paid rent, and the person they owe money to takes something away from them to make up for the money they owe. For example, if someone rents a house but doesn't pay the rent, the landlord might take away something valuable from the house, like a TV or a couch, until the rent is paid. It's not a nice thing to do, but sometimes people have to do it to make sure they get the money they are owed.