This does not automatically mean it is theft. If hired property has not been returned it will only be classed as theft in certain circumstances.ī hires a wallpaper steamer from C for a week and fails to return it on the due date. ◾ B takes an item from the shelf of a shop and leaves the shop without paying for it (shoplifting). ◾ B is sat on a park bench with their mobile phone on the bench next to them when C runs past and takes the phone from the bench and runs off with it. 'Theft occurs when someone dishonestly appropriates (takes possession of or makes use of exclusively for oneself/someone else without permission) some property that does not belong to him or her and treats it as his or her own with the intention of permanently depriving the rightful owner of the property.' In the case of a borrowed item up to a certain value, it may not be considered economically worthwhile to pursue.īelow is a summary of the offence of theft, it is not intended to be a comprehensive explanation. In circumstances like that, the police may not be willing to take action and you could go to the Civil Courts for help to get your property back. If the property is still not returned, there may be sufficient reason to justify making a complaint of theft to the police.Įvery case will be different and it may be, for example, that the borrower claims the property was a gift. If you have a problem with someone who has borrowed your property and has not given it back, keep a record of all the occasions you have asked for it and then ask a solicitor to send a formal letter asking for the return of the property. However, eventually there comes a point where C has been deprived of their property for so long that B has no excuse for not returning it (perhaps a year or more) and the Criminal Courts could consider if B had stolen the drill. If this is pure forgetfulness, which goes on for a fairly long period (despite reminders) it would not be theft. B keeps promising to return it, B does not intend to keep it and it is just left in the garage, but B doesn't get round to giving it back. In some cases it might have to be resolved using the Civil Courts and you may need to seek a solicitor for advice.ī borrows C's power drill.

The refusal to give something back which has been borrowed is not automatically theft. Please also see the related topic, County Lines, in Related Information.

Please see the link in Related Information for contact details. If someone asks you to use your bank account, report it to your local police force. You could also have your account closed and find it difficult to access credit. It is a criminal offence to let someone use your bank account for this activity and you could face a prison sentence of up to 14 years if caught. Once a person has transferred the money successfully there is a high chance that the criminals will want to repeat the process and may use intimidation if someone does not comply. Most of the money being transferred is stolen money and is used to fund further criminal activity such as terrorism and fraud.Ĭriminals usually target vulnerable people who are in financial difficulties as these people may see being a money mule as an opportunity to make money. A 'money mule' is someone who transfers stolen money on behalf of criminals through their own bank account.Ĭriminals will contact a person, either on the internet (via social media, a fake job advertisement) or in person, and offer to pay them for use of their bank account to receive stolen money and transfer it to another account.

Serial thief definition