to think this IS stealing and it DOES count?

[Snuffalo]

Sister in law has a little piece from a fishbone cactus potted up on her windowsill, just starting to show new growth. I asked if I could have a cutting once it's established, and she said sure, or I could just go to (fancy houseplant shop up the road) and see if there was a bit on the floor, because that's where she got the cutting.

She swears she didn't break it off - that it was already broken off and on the floor near the 'parent' plant (this is believable, the shop is really crowded and you have to brush by the plants to get through).

Her argument is that it was a tiny piece (true - it's an inch long at most) and that it would have just been swept up and thrown out anyway.

My arguments are 1. unless she took the piece to the proprietor and asked if she could have it, it's still stealing. Who's to say the shop owner wouldn't have potted it up herself? and 2. the proprietor paid for the rent, soil, plant food, and put in the labour to create and nurture the plant that dropped that little one-inch cutting and SIL is effectively stealing that money and effort.

This wasn't an ACTUAL argument, just a discussion, I'm not dobbing her in or cutting her off over it, but just curious to see how other people view it.

Will you still be taking a cutting OP?

Anything taken from premises which do not belong to you without permission is called stealing. Not many honest people on here today who think that is important, obviously. What if it had been a tiny stone from a ring which had fallen on the floor? The OP says the original plant is worth £50, so any potential cutting is also worth up to £50 to the florist.

My first thought was no definitely not stealing- it's a small piece off a plant that was very unlikely to be kept by the garden centre but then I started thinking about other examples and whether I'd consider that stealing. What if it was a packet of crisps that had fallen out of a multi pack that was picked up and taken home. I would class that as stealing so actually I think this IS stealing. However, would it make question someone's morals? No- its cheeky but ultimately harmless

Will you still be taking a cutting OP?

Would taking a cutting constitute handling stolen goods?

If the cutting is stolen (which it is really despite much of the logic on this thread) and the OP knows it is, would taking a cutting from that plant that the cutting grew into be taking stolen goods?

Break it off, stealing. Pick it up off the floor, taking their rubbish home.

Seriously?

The police can’t be arsed turning up to burglaries in some areas these days so I think you might be safe. Same for the OP’s SIL.

It's a sad day when the definition of theft is whether you're likely to get caught or not.

Not stealing.
My aunt used to take cuttings from peoples plants from their front gardens, if she fancied, which IS stealing, IMO.

It's a sad day when the definition of theft is whether you're likely to get caught or not.

The definition isn’t related to the likelihood of getting caught. You will, however, find that whether people commit a defined crime is often related to whether or not they get caught. Sadly it is the way of the world. The risk reward ratio of criminality.

You have seen first hand on this thread that the owner won’t miss it so nobody cares and it isn’t a big deal. Even thought it’s theft.

Though not thought

I reckon she's lying and snapped a nice sized piece off. It's why lots of garden centres put expensive plants that produce handy pocket sized pieces away from the main thoroughfares.

Bet she nips bits off from plants in people's gardens as well. fucking bastards do that to my front garden frequently.

If someone else was to remove the stick from your arse, is it only stealing if they keep it?

well, if she stole it OP you would also be stealing if you had a cutting from her specimen then wouldn't you?
Nuts.

Just googled fishbone cactus. Gives me the creeps. Very weird looking plant.

Well is it ok to take food out of bins by supermarkets. I mean it’ll be chucked. You’re using it for something good.

I volunteer in a homeless shelter and food bank. Yes taking food from a supermarket bin is stealing and people do get prosecuted for it So we are actually in a situation where there are people who are starving and who have gone to court for taking food that could not be sold or donated to the food bank and would have just gone to waste. Its ridiculous.

@SadOtter
That’s so shocking.

So it was going in the bin and instead she rescued it and planted it. Nope no way is that stealing

It's far more immoral to charge someone for 'stealing' discarded food from a bin than it is to 'steal' from said bin.

Which ever way you left ok at it, SIL picked up the cutting with the intention of getting something from the shop without paying for it. It wasn’t like it was a coin that she could have found lying around anywhere.

How convenient that the cutting had "fallen onto the floor". I'm of the mind that she swiped it off the plant. Either way she should have asked permission.
You can't just take things that have fallen onto the floor from shops.
Coincidentally I've bought some plants today, perhaps I should have just swiped a cutting.
Anyway I don't like cactus plants. When dd was little she bought me one from a summer fair. The bloody thing prickled me to death.

Technically, by definition, yes it’s stealing. I record crimes for the police and if she has taken it with the purpose of intentionally depriving the owner then she’s stolen it. Also, theft by finding is a crime.
I often have these kinds of conversations with DH, OP. It’s always interesting to hear other people’s views. I don’t know why people are giving you such a hard time, you said it was in discussion and not that you were planning to report her, for heavens sake 🙄

Ring the police and report her for theft of a leaf.

Some people!!

I'd ring the police and while you wait initiate a formal citizens arrest.

Trying to say it's a philosophical question, in no imaginable situation can I say any of my mates would even think of anything so turgid

Report it to Special Branch!

I’ve told Teresa. She said she was a bit busy. She’s passed it on to bozza.

Imagine calling the police on someone who had taken a tiny bit of plant that was on the floor?

Of course you wouldn't call the police, but that that doesn't change the fact that this 100% fits the definition of theft.