Well dick, see the post 26. And it's not just in the UK.

sunny: Your Air analogy falls flat. Air, unlike wifi is something a person has no means of NOT breathing. You and I have no control over which molecule enters our bodies. WIFI on the other hand requires the deliberate seeking of, connecting to, and then subsequent use of a signal generated by someone's wifi router. If you're argument was simply that picking up the signal is unavoidable then I would agree. There is no theft where there is simply picking up a signal. Every act after that requires the purpose action of the user. That is what constitutes the theft. Again back to the car. Simply observing the running, unlocked car is not theft. One cannot help but see the unlocked and running car. However to then go and sit in the car is tresspassing. The car does not belong to you, it is the personal property of some other person. The fact that it is running and open for anyone to sit in does not make the entry into the vehicle any less of tresspass than if it were locked and off. In the case it was locked and off then you'd have breaking and entering.

Notice I did not accuse WIFI 'users" as buglars (breaking and entering) I said they stole. Difference.

Had the person who sat in the open and running vehicle then drove off the vehicle it would be theft. That the vehicle is running and open does not make it any less so.

A users open WIFI point is like an on and running vehicle. You are free to observe it but actual use of it without the owners permission constitutes theft. That many (or most) people don't mind doesn't make it any less so. It simply means that those who don't care don't press charges.