It may seem like a good idea to tap into someone's wireless network and let them pay the broadband costs, but you could be in for a shock.

Police aross the UK are cracking down on the practice and two Worcestershire residents have found out the hard way. Redditch police cautioned a man last week who was spotted by locals inside a car using a laptop while parked outside a house and woman was also cautioned for the same thing in a separate offence.

They are especially concerned about the fact that criminals could use unsecured networks for dishonest purposes. Gaining unauthorised access to a computer is an offence covered by the Computer Misuse Act and this is not the first time police have acted, back in 2005 Gregory Straszkiewicz from Ealing was fined £500 and sentenced to 12 months' conditional discharge for piggybacking a neighbours connection.