Can you steal garbage

Hall said dozens of people had taken food from the Tesco bins but that she had only received a bag, mainly containing ham, brought to her flat by a friend.

After her arrest, Hall said: "Tesco clearly did not want the food. They dumped it and rather than see it go to waste, I thought I could help feed me and my family for a week or two. According to the law in England and Wales: "A person commits theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it.

Just because someone throws something away, does not mean they don't own it. So if it can be proven that the property that was thrown away had a rightful owner, it would be illegal to take it. One precedent-setting example from was the case of a diseased buried pig.

According to legal text Archbold's Pleading, Evidence, and Practice in Criminal Cases, even if someone discards something and does not intend to use it again, they can retain ownership of it. Dumpster diving can lead to some very serious legal situations. You may wish to hire a criminal lawyer if you are experiencing identity theft or if you feel that dumpster diving may have affected you. Your attorney can help represent you in court and can advise you on how you might be able to recover any losses or damages due to the violations.

Jose Rivera. Law Library Disclaimer. Can't find your category? Click here. Choose a Legal Category: Family Law. Real Estate and Property Law. Criminal Law. Personal Injury. Defective Products. Intellectual Property. Business and Commercial Law. Please provide a valid Zip Code or City and choose a category. Please choose a category from the list. Is Dumpster Diving considered stealing? Is it stealing to take something from a dumpster? What is the best time to dumpster dive?

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