11 'micro-crimes' you've probably committed
Research by YouGov found that 74 per cent of UK citizens had perpetrated at least one very minor crime.
Most common was paying someone cash-in-hand while knowing that no tax would be declared, with 43 per cent of those surveyed confessing to this.
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Hide AdAmong the ‘lesser’ offences confessed to included refilling a drink without paying extra (16 per cent) and eating supermarkets’ loose fruit or pick’n’mix without paying (12 per cent).
Crime begins at home
Illegal activities committed within the safety of the perpetrator’s own home included illegal streaming or downloading, with a quarter of people saying they did this.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was younger people who are more likely to illegally stream from the web, involving 57 per cent of 18-24 year-olds compared to just eight per cent of those over the age of 65.
Out and about
Dodges while out and about included saying a food order was take-away when it was eat-in (22 per cent), taking a plastic bag at a supermarket to avoid the 5p charge (17 per cent).
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Hide AdAlthough only 2 per cent of thieves steal a bag per week, YouGov still calculate the loss to supermarkets (or charities) to be £4.2million per year.
And 24 per cent of us avoided paying a fare on public transport.
Starting young
Lying about one’s own age or situation (19 per cent) or the age of a child (16 per cent) were also common didges to save a little bit extra.
Criminal classes
Men are more likely to commit micro-crimes than women (77 per cent vs 71 per cent), and 78 per cent of the middle classes, as opposed to 69 of working-class people, admitted to the criminal acts listed, particularly cash-in-hand payments.