PART IVOffences, Powers of Constables, etc.
Preventive offences
58Convicted thief in possession
1
Any person who, being a person to whom this section applies—
a
has or has recently had in his possession any tool or other object from the possession of which it may reasonably be inferred that he intended to commit theft or has committed theft; and
b
is unable to demonstrate satisfactorily that his possession of such tool or other object is or was not for the purposes of committing theft
shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £500 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months or to both.
2
For the purposes of subsection (1) above, a person shall have recently had possession of a tool or other object if he had possession of it within 14 days before the date of—
a
his arrest without warrant for the offence of having so possessed it in contravention of subsection (1) above; or
b
the issue of a warrant for his arrest for that offence ; or
c
if earlier, the service upon him of the first complaint alleging that he has committed that offence.
3
Where a court convicts a person of an offence under this section or discharges him absolutely or makes a probation order in relation to him in respect of such an offence it may order the forfeiture of any tool or other object in respect of the possession of which he was convicted or discharged absolutely, or, as the case may be, the probation order was made.
4
This section applies to a person who has two or more convictions for theft which are not, for the purposes of the [1974 c. 53.] Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, spent convictions.
5
In this section "theft" includes any aggravation of theft including robbery.