A 39-year-old man was arrested yesterday after he was spotted tapping away at his laptop while perched on a wall outside a home in Chiswick, west London, by two police community support officers.
The officers believed he was using the owner's unsecured wireless broadband connection without permission and he was arrested on suspicion of stealing the connection. He was taken to Chiswick police station and bailed until October pending further inquiries. Although wireless thieves say it is a victimless crime, the number of arrests for dishonestly obtaining free access under the Communications Act 2003 are rising.
Detective Constable Mark Roberts, of the Metropolitan Police computer crime unit, said those illegally using unsecured broadband should fear arrest. "This arrest should act as a warning to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to illegally use other people's broadband," he said.
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News source: Guardian Unlimited
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