Quote:
Originally Posted by Accyexplorer
Cost to the taxpayer= (Estimated) £500
Cost of 'abstracted' (not stolen) electricity = (Estimated) 1p
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It's still stealing - it's part of the theft act. Your argument suggests I can go into Tesco and take a sweet from the pick & mix without fear of repercussions.
He was arrested for refusing to remove his charger from someone else's power socket. The bulk of the cost to the taxpayer was because he was re-arrested for being belligerent. Personally, I think he got what he deserved.
It's common decency to ask for permission to use someone else's facilities if they aren't provided for the public (the plug socket is probably only there so the cleaners can bring their hoovers around). If I'd have been the conductor, I would have refused because I've seen enough stories of cheap knock-off chargers bursting into flames that I would not accept the risk. There is a reason you can see electrical goods in many businesses with safety inspection stickers on their power plugs and the device itself. I'm not going to risk my job for someone who can't be bothered to get up a half hour earlier so they can charge their phone enough to last the duration of their commute.
If I were the sort of person who talked so much that my battery drained at inopportune moments, I'd make sure to carry a spare battery.