Taking a conveyance without authority

Taking a conveyance without authority is an offence contrary to Section 14 of the Theft Ordinance (Chapter 210). It is often referred to as taking and driving away, and is committed where a person takes a conveyance (motor vehicle) for their own use without the consent of the owner or without lawful authority. That charge is appropriate where the conveyance is taken for a short while but the taker does not intend to take it away from the owner permanently. Because there is no intention to permanently deprive the owner, the taker does not commit theft. A person might, for example, take a conveyance to avoid having to walk home! The conveyance is then abandoned and the owner gets it back.