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Neighbor's rainwater stolen: Police are investigating the theft of 15 cents!
A woman in Konstanz tapped 40 liters of rainwater from her neighbor's barrel at night and is being investigated for theft.
Neighbor's rainwater stolen: Police are investigating the theft of 15 cents!
In an unusual story from Spaichingen, a 51-year-old woman caused a stir: in the early hours of July 25th, she tapped her neighbor's rainwater to fill her watering can. She secretly took around 40 liters of the precious liquid from the 38-year-old's rain barrel. In doing so, she secured a “good deal” whose value was estimated at a whopping 15 cents, reports World.
The interesting incident occurred just before 4 a.m. when the woman hid behind a dumpster to avoid detection. The neighbor noticed the loss of water and reported the thief to the police. This determined that the water taken was the property of the owner and the theft was therefore legally relevant. The possible punishment for stealing low-value items can range from fines to imprisonment, as noted legalnerd.de is explained in detail.
Community discusses the consequences
The incident sparked heated discussions in the community. The police released a press release that quickly caused a stir on Facebook. Around 270 comments show a mixed picture of opinions: Some users rate the woman's behavior as Swabian thrift, while others question the lengths the police go to for the low value of the stolen water. Some commenters even offer tips on how to go unnoticed when stealing water or offer to fill the woman's watering can for free.
It also raises a fundamental question: Does rainwater belong to anyone? The police emphasize that rainwater in the barrel actually belongs to the owner, which makes the legal situation clear. Even though the right to rainwater is discussed again and again, the woman now has criminal responsibility. However, it is unclear whether the public prosecutor's office will take action against her. According to information Swabian the proceedings could be discontinued due to insignificance or lack of public interest.
The whole story sheds light on the often underestimated issue of theft of low-value items. The legal regulation applies that such theft remains unpunished unless there is a public interest or a criminal complaint is filed by the injured party. However, this often does not happen for small amounts, which can mean that smaller crimes often go unnoticed.