if someone had the intent to steal but stole something free, does he or her charged with theft
2007-07-09 04:06:11 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I did not steal anything, this is just a question of curiosity
2007-07-12 11:54:35 · update #1
If it was put out and had a sign on it that said it was all right to take and that it was free then it is not stealing, someone gave it to you.
If it was not clearly marked as free or that it was all right to take then if you take it it is stealing.
2007-07-09 04:10:36 · answer #1 · answered by Lori B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, this makes me think of the story we read in my philosophy class on passive or active euthanasia.
I forget some details, but here's the gist. Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones both have money to inherit if their nephew dies. Mr. Smith goes into the bathroom when the boy in bathing, and holds his head under the water drowning him. Mr. Jones goes into the bathroom, with the intent to kill his nephew, but watches as the boy falls... at which time he walks away. The boy drowns, on his own. Is Mr. Smith worse than Mr. Jones considering Mr. Jones had the same intent?
It all lays right there in that word, intent.
Though, in a case of petty theft, the person probably shouldn't be charged, but they did have the intent to steal, and most likely will steal again... eventaully being caught.
2007-07-09 11:13:06 · answer #2 · answered by bored. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was established in the famous case of Haughton v Smith that "Steps on the way to doing something which is thereafter done and which is not a crime could not be regarded as an attempt to commit a crime". http://www.swarb.co.uk/c/hl/1974haughton_smith.html If, therefore, the intent to steal was impossible of fulfilment, as the thing was being offered free of charge to anyone wishing to take it, then despite the intention of the person concerned, this is not a crime.
2007-07-09 11:49:46 · answer #3 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's free, no law was broken.
If the intent was to steal, well, that's something you're gonna have to live with. You know stealing is wrong.
2007-07-09 11:10:44 · answer #4 · answered by Jeff the drummer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you 'stole' it, it was 'free'.
How would you steal something and pay for it?
Your question is too vague to really answer well.
2007-07-09 11:14:38 · answer #5 · answered by Michael B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if it was meant to be given out free, then it's not stealing so you shouldn't even have to worry about it.
2007-07-09 11:37:43 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If something is free for the taking, HOW CAN THIS BE STEALING? This is an oxymoron, a contradiction in term.
2007-07-09 11:09:57 · answer #7 · answered by WC 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it it was free it was not stolen.....that would be the area of law
now the intent to steal is a moral issue...
2007-07-09 11:08:41 · answer #8 · answered by penydred 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
did you take a free sample at a grocery store or do you think that just because you stole it is was free?
2007-07-09 11:09:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if u steal it it is wrong...
2007-07-09 11:14:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋