to think that this isn’t just a quirk or living at the end house and is actually theft?

[BanKittenHeels]

We live at the end house on our road. It turns out our window cleaner has been using water from our back garden tap to wash the windows not only on our entire side of the road but also the houses on the road that backs onto our road. That’s 43 houses!
When confronted about this he told me “that’s a quirk of living at the end house”.

I mentioned it to a neighbour and she just laughed and said “It’s only a bit of water!”

AIBU to think, as we are on a water meter, this is actually theft?

What's the going rate per bin?

£2.50 per bin

@Ferretyone

It is theft, and would not fail the first part. Property is water too.
Just the same if you borrow £5 from the till per se, until you can get to the bank, in the eyes of the law it's still theft even if you intend to replace it. Oddly, because you can't put that exact same £5 note back....

Theft is theft.
@BanKittenHeels I'd actually be reporting this to your water company. See what they say too.

Very cheeky indeed.

Oh my goodness, of course it’s theft, he can’t do that. I believe you can get locks for the tap, sorry if it’s already been mentioned. It wouldn’t be so bad if you weren’t metered, but it’s not right. Tell him you will be going to the police if it doesn’t stop, the same as with any other theft.

Oddly, because you can't put that exact same £5 note back....

By definition money "legal tender" is fungible.

@professorslocombe not according to the law it isn't.... Several theft convictions as a result.

It’s not because you can’t replicate the exact same banknote, pippastrell, it’s because you can’t prove the intention to replace.
Cash is indeed fungible.

professorslocombe not according to the law it isn't.... Several theft convictions as a result.

not quite sure what you mean ? Money is fundamentally fungible. Which has nothing to do with whether it can be stolen or not.

Thinking about it, in theory water should be fungible too.

Id report him to the police only if to just serve him right
But I am that kind of person
Theft is theft