Crime CCXX-Theft XXVIII

Appropriation of goods that are given to charity may also be considered as theft depending on where the goods were taken from. In Ricketts v Basildon Magistrates (2011), the defendant took some bags filled with items that were given to Oxfam and the BHF (the British Heart Foundation) intending to sell them at a car sale. The defendant was charged under the Theft Act 1968 and he was committed by the magistrates to the crown court.

It was held that taking items given to charity may be considered as theft depending on where they were taken from. The items that were given to Oxfam were taken from Oxfam bins which is the property of Oxfam and therefore the taking of those items constituted theft. The items given to the BHF were placed on their doorstep and therefore did not constitute theft. It the instance of the latter it could be argued that the items were abandoned.

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