Back in November, Toronto police made history when they charged an alleged child pornographer with "theft of telecommunications", believed to be the first time such a charge was laid in Canada. Now, it seems, that Peel Regional Police (Peel is a municipal region to the northwest of Toronto) have caught on, too. The following was forwarded to me on May 21 me by a reader of the Hamilton Spectator (an old employer of mine, incidentally). I reproduce chunks of it below as the Spectator's Web site is set up mostly for subscribers. Thanks, JPiercy, for the pointer.

Psychiatrist faces Internet theft charges A Burlington psychiatrist accused of possessing child pornography and banned from the Web has been charged with stealing a neighbour's Internet. Dr. Allan Beitel, 57, was charged Wednesday with two counts of theft of telecommunications, two counts of breaching his bail conditions, and unauthorized use of a computer. Police accuse Beitel of accessing his neighbour's wireless Internet connection to conceal his Internet activity. He remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing. Beitel faces charges of possessing child porn and stolen property from 2003 for allegedly stealing a laptop computer. He was charged in January with possession of stolen property, fraud, personation and breach of recognizance. Beitel was barred from using the Internet as part of his bail conditions. Peel police Detective Kelly Kippen said yesterday that investigators discovered Beitel was hacking into his neighbour's wireless Internet service with a laptop. The computer has been seized. ---[snipped]--- Beitel remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing tomorrow at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.