Man who charged his iPhone on train arrested for stealing electricity

[froggyboy604]

We’ve heard about iPhone-related crime before, but here’s one that’s new: A U.K. man in London who was arrested by police after charging his iPhone on a train.
 
45-year-old artist Robin Lee was approached by a police community support officer on board the train last Friday, warned that he was “illegally extracting electricity.” When Lee arrived at his destination, police officers were waiting to arrest him.
 
In a statement, a spokesman for British Transport Police (BTP) said that they had been called to Camden Road London Overground station due to a report of, “a man becoming aggressive when challenged by a PCSO about his use of a plug socket on board an Overground train.”
 
Read More
 
I felt this is an overreaction by the police since the guy is not harming anyone by charging his iPhone, and the electricity used by his charger is a very small amount.
 
The guy also shouldn't be aggressive, and just unplug his charger from the electrical socket on the train.
 
People who use their smartphones heavily should buy one of those portable battery chargers used for charging smartphones. Those portable battery chargers are pretty affordable and can be bought at $10 and up on eBay, and Amazon.
 

 

[lb]

I think that the arrest was mostly because of his lack of cooperation, rather than for the electricity theft. Had he cooperated and unplugged his charger, the support officer wouldn't have called the police.

 

[froggyboy604]

I think that the arrest was mostly because of his lack of cooperation, rather than for the electricity theft. Had he cooperated and unplugged his charger, the support officer wouldn't have called the police.

I agree, he was probably arrested for lack of cooperation.

But, I think he should of just been told to get off the train at the next station, pay a fine like $50 for being aggressive on the train, and banned from using the Train and other public transportation like bus, and ferry boat as punishment.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

I still haven't read this story, sounds too ridiculous.

 

[froggyboy604]

I still haven't read this story, sounds too ridiculous.

I agree, this story is pretty ridiculous for both the police, and the guy who got arrested for charging his phone by stealing electricity on the train.

Maybe the guy wanted to get arrested by the police to prove that the UK is a police and nanny state where you get arrested for just charging your phone with the train's power outlet, and the police bosses you around for minor crimes which don't hurt anyone.

 

[lb]

Hopefully, he was not sentenced to prison. He was most likely just detained for a short period of time and given a fine or something.

 

[froggyboy604]

He was released, but did not mention paying a fine according to SlashGear

He was "de-arrested" for "abstracting electricity" and "further arrested" for "unacceptable behavior" -- for being aggressive with the police.

I think he most likely have to go to court to dispute the charges on being aggressive with police.

 

[Sharon]

I would have cooperated but recorded the conversation via video or something and expose them on media. That's ridiculous.  Why have plugs in place if they're not meant to be used for charging?