It could potentially be theft in a legal sense, under s.1(1) of the Theft Act 1968,[1] depending on whether the jury finds that the conduct of the "thieves" was

It could potentially be theft in a legal sense, under s.1(1) of the Theft Act 1968,[1] depending on whether the jury finds that the conduct of the "thieves" was dishonest from the perspective of a reasonable person.[2] Although I do not think a jury would make such a finding in most cases, nor would the owners support a prosecution of those who provide what is essentially a free service. 1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/1 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/1 2. s.74 https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2017/67.html https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2017/67.html