السرقة مشكلة.

Because Arabic often leaves out the present-tense to be in simple statements.

So السرقة مشكلة literally looks like theft problem, but in correct English it means Theft is a problem.

This kind of sentence is called a nominal sentence in Arabic. In the present tense, Arabic normally does not use a separate word for is/am/are here.

If you wanted a past-tense version, then Arabic would use a verb, for example:

• كانت السرقة مشكلة = Theft was a problem

Because السرقة is the subject, and here it is being used in a generic sense: theft as a general concept.

In Arabic, a general idea is often expressed with the definite article الـ:

• السرقة = theft / stealing in general

But مشكلة is the predicate and is indefinite:

• مشكلة = a problem

So the structure is:

• السرقة = the topic, theft
• مشكلة = what is being said about it, a problem

That is why the sentence means:

• Theft is a problem

not

• The theft is the problem

It is a noun, not a verb.

More specifically, it is a verbal noun or masdar from the root connected with stealing:

• root: س ر ق

So السرقة means theft or stealing as an action/concept, not he stole or he steals.

Compare:

• سرق = he stole (verb)
• السرقة = theft / stealing (noun)

It is pronounced approximately:

• as-sariqah in pause
• as-sariqatu with full case ending

The reason الـ sounds like as- is that س is a sun letter. With sun letters, the l of الـ is not pronounced, and the next consonant is doubled.

So:

• ال + سرقة becomes pronounced
• as-sariqah

not

• al-sariqah

The final ة is called taa marbuta.

It often marks a feminine noun, and in pause it is usually pronounced like -ah:

• السرقة → as-sariqah
• مشكلة → mushkilah

But when the word takes a grammatical ending or is closely connected in certain structures, that ة is pronounced as t:

• السرقةُ = as-sariqatu
• مشكلةٌ = mushkilatun

So English speakers often notice two pronunciations:

• in pause: -ah
• with endings: -at / -atu / -atun, depending on grammar

In fully vocalized, careful MSA, the sentence is:

• السَّرِقَةُ مُشْكِلَةٌ

And it is read:

• as-sariqatu mushkilatun

Both words are in the nominative case:

• السرقةُ because it is the subject
• مشكلةٌ because it is the predicate of a nominal sentence

In everyday pronunciation, especially when pausing, these endings are often not fully pronounced, so you may hear something closer to:

• as-sariqah mushkilah

Yes, السرقة is grammatically feminine.

You can tell partly from the taa marbuta (ة) at the end. This matters when you add adjectives or verbs, because they will usually agree with it in the feminine singular.

For example:

• السرقة خطيرة = Theft is dangerous
• السرقة منتشرة = Theft is widespread

So even though theft is not biologically female, the noun is grammatically feminine.

Yes. Since السرقة is a verbal noun, it can often correspond to English theft or stealing, depending on context.

So natural translations include:

• Theft is a problem
• Stealing is a problem

The exact English choice depends on style and context, but the Arabic structure itself is completely normal.

Yes. This is a very common Arabic pattern:

• [definite/general noun] + [indefinite predicate]

Examples:

• الكذب مشكلة = Lying is a problem
• التدخين عادة = Smoking is a habit
• العنف خطر = Violence is a danger

So السرقة مشكلة is a very useful model sentence for learning how Arabic states general facts.