england-and-wales theft
Is it a crime to give away property without consent?
<p>At work, if I deliberately place a sticker on a jar of nice coffee which says "help yourself", without the knowledge or consent of the owner of that coffee, and knowing the coffee isn't mine and and in the absence of any evidence that the owner wants it given away, am I committing a crime?</p>

<p>Its a stupid, antisocial thing to do so I wouldn't do it, but I am curious.  The person taking the coffee has no mens rea, they don't know that the owner has not consented.  </p>

<p>I think Dale M is essentially correct.  Let me give more detail by quoting the <strong>Theft Act 1968</strong>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>1 Basic definition of theft (1) A person is guilty of theft if he
  dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the
  intention of permanently depriving the other of it; and “thief” and
  “steal” shall be construed accordingly.</p>
  
  <p>(2) It is <strong>immaterial whether the appropriation is made with a view
  to gain</strong>, or is made for the thief’s own benefit.</p>
  
  <p>3 “Appropriates”.</p>
  
  <p>(1) <strong>Any assumption by a person of the rights of an owner amounts to
  an appropriation</strong>, and this includes, where he has come by the
  property (innocently or not) without stealing it, any later assumption
  of a right to it by keeping or dealing with it as owner.</p>
  
  <p>(2) Where property or a right or interest in property is or purports
  to be transferred for value to a person acting in good faith, no later
  assumption by him of rights which he believed himself to be acquiring
  shall, by reason of any defect in the transferor’s title, amount to
  theft of the property.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>You assume the rights of an owner by placing a notice offering it to other people.  Therefore it is theft.  I presume similar laws exist in other juristictions.</p>

<p>Yes, the crime is called theft or stealing or larceny.</p>

<p>You took possession of someone else’s property (by putting the sign on it) with the intention of permanently depriving them of it - the fact that you personally did not benefit from the theft is irrelevant.</p>
