Hotel shampoo, IKEA pencils and pick n mix sweets: The things we think it is okay to steal

Hotel shampoo, IKEA pencils and pick n mix sweets: The things we think it is okay to steal

By Lucy Waterlow

PUBLISHED: 07:36 EST, 25 February 2013 | UPDATED: 19:53 EST, 25 February 2013

Once it may have been seen as straightforward pilfering. Now, however, it seems slipping a hotel shampoo into your suitcase or secretly using someone else’s wifi is perfectly normal.

Unsecured internet and items in hotel rooms topped a list of things seen as acceptable to steal in a recent survey.

Those taking part in the research also had no qualms about taking pens from Ikea and Argos stores and fruit from supermarkets.

Caught red handed: But pick n mix was one item people said they wouldn't feel guilty about taking without paying

A survey asked 1,000 adults what they felt they could steal without a guilty conscience.

More than 90 per cent said they would happily raid hotel rooms for freebies, while 88 per cent thought it was acceptable to access a neighbour’s network if it was not password-protected.

Get passport protected: Almost nine out of ten people would access a neighbour's internet if it was insecure

A total of 55 per cent said they would pocket restaurant condiments without remorse and more than a third said they would take home a pub beer glass after a night out.

A sweet-toothed 17 per cent confessed to helping themselves to the pick’n’mix counter without paying. Around one in ten said they would sample supermarket fruit for free.

Pens from Ikea, Ladbrokes and Argos were named by 8 per cent as items they would steal.

Help your self: The majority of those polled said they would raid their hotel room for freebies like shampoo

TOP TEN ITEMS PEOPLE WILL TAKE WITHOUT FEELING GUILTY

1. Hotel shampoo and other items 93%
2. Unsecured internet 88%
3. Restaurant condiments 55%
4. Pub beer glasses 37%
5. Office stationary 27%
6. Colleague's tea/coffee 22%
7. Pick and mix sweets 17%
8. Supermarket fruit 11%
9. Pens from IKEA/Argos/Ladbrokes 8%
10. Park flowers 3%
    

The workplace was also seen as an opportunity for free stationery.

Over a quarter - 27 per cent - admitted they often took pens, notepads and envelopes from their employer.

Nearly a quarter said they would happily pilfer a colleague’s tea and coffee supplies.

A spokesman for Paintballing.co.uk, which carried out the survey, said: ‘Everyone loves a freebie but it seems the lines between what is intended as a complimentary giveaway and what is someone else’s property isn’t always clear.

'It seems many of us believe we can help ourselves to all manner of things.’