ABSTRACT
It is clear that as soon as an appropriation, within the very wide meaning now attached to that concept, is committed with the necessary mens rea, the offence of theft is complete. Thus, for example, someone who takes goods from a supermarket shelf and puts them into the supermarket’s trolley with the intention of leaving the store with the goods and without paying for them, commits the offence of theft as soon as he removes the goods from the shelf. For one of the above reasons, the question may arise as to whether the offence, though complete, has actually finished. How long does it continue?
