Questions tagged [theft]
For questions about criminal deprivation of property as well as property torts
215
questions
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can you be arrested for not paying a vendor like a taxi driver or gas station?
I have read conflicting information about police in the United States arresting people for not paying a bill from a retail vendor, like a taxi driver, auto mechanic or restaurant.
On one hand my ...
- 27.4k
11
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Is it a crime to take out a loan with no intention to repay?
This question on Money.SE concerned a person who had taken out a number of loans. He didn't intend to repay these loans in full, planning instead to default and leave the country. Several posters on ...
- 183k
0
votes
0
answers
62
views
Taking spare parts from a thrown away bike [duplicate]
Alice takes a walk outside everyday and passes a bike just lying around, which is clearly not in a location where people would normally leave their bike (cycle rack, near a store or a bus stop, ... ) ...
- 327
2
votes
1
answer
118
views
Are parents liable to prosecution as soon as they know that their child has stolen something?
In Germany, children up to the age of 14 are not liable to prosecution. What happens when a child steals a sweet in the supermarket and the parents don't notice at first? Only when they get home do ...
2
votes
1
answer
79
views
Insurance claim chain of causality vehicle damages garage causes theft
In England.
A vehicle damaged the sole ingress and egress for cars at a block of flats in careless but normal use. The damage was such that the ingress/egress (a garage door) could no longer be closed....
-3
votes
1
answer
102
views
Call from detective [closed]
say hypothetically someone committed a the crime of stealing a public sign and being publicly intoxicated under the age of 21..
The next day a detective calls asking to talk in person and says they &...
- 4,214
3
votes
1
answer
115
views
What recourse do I have if my car was broken into while in police impound?
My car was being held as part of an investigation, while it was in police custody, it was broken into and personal effects were stolen along with the catalytic converter, it was one of several cars.
A ...
- 197k
-2
votes
1
answer
162
views
If you let a thief into the building, are you liable?
In a building with gated entry, if a resident lets a stranger into the building, and he turns out to be a thief, would the resident who let him in be liable for the damages?
- 197k
0
votes
4
answers
177
views
What are reasonable steps to ascertain or contact lost property's owner to avoid liability for theft by finding?
Suppose one finds an item on the street that seems to have been lost by someone. What are examples of reasonable steps one could take to attempt to contact the item's rightful owner before concluding ...
- 183k
1
vote
0
answers
45
views
Is it legal to take items left by others on the side walk? [duplicate]
Locality: California, USA
In my city I often find belongings left on the sidewalk, things like old clothes, plastic bags sometimes filled with items inside, shopping carts, trash bags, etc. Most are ...
0
votes
2
answers
93
views
What makes a car not a “negotiable” chattel?
Another answer contrasts negotiable instruments like currency with the example of a car where a thief of the car doesn’t “own” the car and cannot transfer ownership. What is it about a car that makes ...
- 24k
2
votes
2
answers
276
views
Can shop staff search your bag when you are selected for a random rescan?
(UK based). My question refers to the situation where you are using the "scan as you go" system in which you scan items and pack them into your bag as you go around the shop, and pay at the ...
- 1,051
-1
votes
6
answers
381
views
Is it theft if you take money (with out permission) but return it the next day?
Supposed that a person A used another person's credit card (B) to buy a $1 item (without permission) while A was doing B's shopping but A returned the money. Has A committed theft?
- 112k
1
vote
3
answers
137
views
I have copyright of a precious notebook that its thief bequeathed to a museum that refuses to give me back the notebook. What is my recourse?
The museum does not dispute that this historically important notebook belongs to my family. Nor does it dispute how it came into the thieving family's hands. In correspondence the museum offers a &...
- 183k
1
vote
3
answers
170
views
Is "not committing a crime" sufficient consideration?
Alice sees John attempting to steal her car. For some reason, instead of calling the police, she says "I'll give you $1,000 tomorrow if you don't steal my car." John agrees.
Scenario 1
Alice ...
- 624
2
votes
3
answers
574
views
Do criminals really "have no recourse" if their ill-gotten property is stolen by a third party?
From the TV series Better Call Saul (S1E7 - Bingo) main character Jimmy McGill is involved in a case wherein a client of his, Craig Kettleman, stands accused of stealing 1.6 million dollars.
The ...
- 112k
1
vote
1
answer
109
views
I bought a bottle of spirits with the security tag intact. Have I committed theft?
I bought a bottle of spirits from a local supermarket, when I got home I noticed the BottleLox anti-theft cap hadn't been removed.
I paid for my shopping (including the bottle!) at a self-service till,...
- 24k
2
votes
5
answers
350
views
Assuming a one trillion dollar coin exists, and is stolen, is there are sequence of events that could lead to someone legally owning it?
A funny (and seemingly legal, if absurd) proposal during the current debt ceiling debate is to mint a one trillion dollar platinum coin and deposit it with the Treasury to reduce the debt below the ...
- 812
3
votes
1
answer
93
views
Has anyone been charged for stealing their own stuff?
Suppose someone "A" has a storage unit, and was told by the manager to remove their belongings by a certain date.
"A" was then notified that the manager was leaving early and not ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
35
views
Is a non dwelling burglary under s91b theft act 1968 strict liability?
Section 9(1)(b) of the theft act 1968 specifies an offence of entering as a trespasser and then taking or damaging things from a building. Does conviction for this offence require a demonstration of ...
- 183k
11
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Does consuming a product in a shop count as theft, if the intent to pay for that product at checkout exists?
I sometimes see this happen in supermarkets; parents of bored children will give them some non-specific snack while shopping or while standing in line to pay, and will then scan the wrapper of the ...
- 32.8k
6
votes
2
answers
115
views
How is Seditious Conspiracy distinguished from ordinary robbery?
Seditious Conspiracy is defined as:
If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to [...] or by force to seize, take, ...
- 157
4
votes
2
answers
191
views
Is it a crime for a mail lady to take mail out of your hand, threaten to destroy it and drive off?
The mail lady knocked on my door, handed me a stack of mail, and asked for me to sign for one piece of certified mail for my dad. I declined.
She ended up snatching all the mail she handed me which ...
- 30.8k
1
vote
1
answer
127
views
Are there any jurisdictions where theft is not a crime but victims can sue theives?
Are there any jurisdictions where theft is not a crime, but the owner of a stolen item can sue the thief for either return of the item or monetary damages? This would be similar to how copyright law ...
- 312
-5
votes
1
answer
5k
views
The mailman put I signed for a package I never received
I was waiting on a package (Louis Vuitton Purse) I ordered 2 weeks prior. I receive the notification that the package was scheduled for delivery today between 12pm & 3pm. Than I received another ...
- 32.8k
0
votes
3
answers
265
views
Can a victim of theft retroactively give the stolen item to the thief?
If Joe steals Alice's widget, but Alice for some reason doesn't want Joe to be convicted and is okay with him having her widget, can she retroactively give him permission? Does this prevent him from ...
- 32.8k
0
votes
1
answer
148
views
Theft as Distribution of Software
I recently posed a hypothetical to a lawyer who deals with software licensing (His role is to protect a company from accidentally misusing FOSS software) and got a startling response. My hypothetical ...
- 197k
-6
votes
2
answers
116
views
Alice stole a package from Bob. Is it legal? [closed]
Alice stole Bob's Amazon package and opened it. It contained sheets of processed wood, 216 by 365 millimeters. Is this legal?
- 783
0
votes
1
answer
92
views
What is the threshold of suspicion for retail loss prevention to subject shoppers to various impositions
Meet Bob. Bob purchased something and elects not to print/collect a receipt from the self checkout till. The security then accosts him suspecting him of not paying for it and he insists that he did, ...
- 9,284
0
votes
2
answers
117
views
What legal action will be most likely to succeed in reclaiming money stolen by a contractor? [closed]
I've hired an individual to do various repairs on a mobile home. There were two initial sections that had two handwritten contracts, and they were (mostly) completed. After those two contracts, I gave ...
CommunityBot
- 1
24
votes
5
answers
13k
views
Is it a crime to "steal" your own money from a bank?
It is in the news that it has become a thing to stage a bank "robbery" to get access to ones own money in Lebanon. While these have involved things that are undoubtedly crimes (such as ...
3
votes
2
answers
115
views
What is the status of money in a bank account, compared to a debt obligation or a safe deposit box?
I am trying to figure out what the legal status of money in a bank account, and I have asked these two questions but not figured it out. I think this hypothetical highlights the problem.
Suppose ...
- 174k
0
votes
1
answer
203
views
When is it theft to take trash from a bin?
From reading an existing question, it can be illegal to take belongings left in the street, depending on the area of the world you are referring to.
So let me present a specific scenario, in the UK, ...
- 1,030
5
votes
1
answer
454
views
Picking fruit that overhangs public property
Today I was eating plums from a tree growing on private property, which I picked from branches overhanging the public highway. A passing cyclist said "That is scrumping" and I replied "...
- 121
-1
votes
1
answer
73
views
If i had seen somebody steall something from a store and then drove him somewhere is it a crime?
So this person insisted on me giving him a ride to a nearby CVS and I went ahead with taking him, as being a good samaritan (I thought), and we went in the store. I bought some drinks and while I'm at ...
- 27.4k
1
vote
2
answers
139
views
Forged name to sale a vehicle
Father died last year, no will, 6 daughters and oldest has taken over the estate but youngest daughter a few months ago, had his truck hidden and just sold it and spent the money from sale, she forged ...
- 197k
0
votes
0
answers
346
views
Are flash loan attacks legal?
A new form of "money making activity" has emerged in recent years, the flash loan attack. In very rough terms, a loan of some cryptocurrency is taken out, the cryptocurrency is used in some ...
- 4,135
5
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What legally happens when someone takes your bank card and uses it?
If someone steals your wallet, takes the money and uses it to buy something that is theft against you. If someone steals your wallet, takes the bank card and uses that to buy something what crime are ...
- 2,212
2
votes
2
answers
160
views
Legality of Sign Inviting Someone to Take Property
So, I recently saw a photo of a sticker on somebody's boot saying "come and take it" with a picture of a gun case on it. Clearly, we all know what the intention behind that was (given it was ...
- 6,395
2
votes
1
answer
46
views
Filing a patent without 100% ownership
Along with a co-inventor, who is employed by company ABC Pty Ltd, you invent "Gadget Thing". (To be clear: you are not employed by ABC Pty Ltd.) It looks like a great, first-of-field ...
- 10.8k
5
votes
1
answer
813
views
Coat checks warning
I got into a debate with a friend about the disclaimer you see on coat checks, parking lot tickets, and other similar "contracts." There is often text printed on the back of the tickets you receive. ...
10
votes
4
answers
3k
views
At what point does something become theft?
Let's say Bob enters a store and he only needs to pick up a few small items. The store provides shopping carts but he doesn't use one. He grabs the small items he needs and to transport them to the ...
- 455
1
vote
1
answer
80
views
"Find my device" and GDPR compliance
Google and Apple both offer a "Find my Device" service which allows to track or even remotely wipe a stolen device. Yet some companies claim that tracking stolen devices is not a legitimate ...
- 23.5k
9
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Can you keep money that was refunded in error?
If a person pays a debt due to a company, and gets a receipt showing the debt has been fully satisfied, but then that company (potentially in error) refunds the full amount without any communication ...
- 7,417
22
votes
3
answers
6k
views
In a state with the common law definition of theft, can you force a store to take cash by "pretending" to steal?
If I understand correctly, (a) under common law, theft requires an intent to permanently deprive the owner, and (b) legal tender only applies to debts, not purchases. B is the reason why stores do not ...
- 1,234
-2
votes
2
answers
183
views
Is it illegal to borrow cryptocurrency without consent?
Suppose I obtain the ability to access someone else's cryptocurrency. For the sake of the question let's assume the means by which this ability was obtained wasn't itself illegal, e.g. I overheard ...
- 144
-1
votes
2
answers
149
views
Is it legal to take something you didn't know was yours?
John Doe saw James Smith's car sitting in James's driveway and decided to steal it. He walked up onto the driveway (trespassing) and broke into the car and stole it (theft). What John didn't know was ...
- 2,637
10
votes
6
answers
6k
views
What happens if someone who intends to steal a car decides to rescue a child after breaking in?
This is similar to my question about breaking into a car in order to rescue a child in hot weather. The events are basically the same, but the intent of the person breaking in is different.
John sees ...
- 2,541
0
votes
1
answer
361
views
How much stolen bitcoin must a wallet have to be legally recoverable?
TLDR: Under what circumstances could one successfully sue to gain control of stolen bitcoin? If it depends on what proportion of an addresses unspent output consists of your stolen bitcoin then what ...
CommunityBot
- 1
3
votes
1
answer
687
views
Can you "steal" your own stolen car?
John Doe's car was stolen, along with a copy of the key. The theif then sells the car and key to someone else. John Doe is walking down a sidewalk, and sees his car in someone's driveway. He checks ...
- 367