Habbo Claims Free Publicity by getting 17 year olds arrested

[Administrator]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/200711...b7e5c6f_1.html

Dutch police have made their first arrest of an online thief -- a 17-year-old accused of stealing virtual furniture from rooms in the Habbo Hotel -- a popular teenager networking Web site.

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An Amsterdam police spokeswoman confirmed a report that the teenager was accused of stealing 4,000 euros (2,833 pounds) worth of virtual furniture by hacking into the accounts of other users.

Four other 15-year-olds have also been questioned in the case, which was instigated by the Web site. They are suspected of moving the stolen furniture into their own online hotel rooms.

Habbo users can create their own characters, decorate their own rooms and play a number of games, paying with Habbo Credits, which they have to buy with real cash.

Habbo Hotel is owned by Finnish Internet company Sulake which said last month it had reached 80 million registered users of its sites in 31 countries.

(Reporting by Emma Thomasson; Editing by Dominic Evans)

I thought no accounts on habbo can be "Hacked" and that all furniture is owned by "Sulake" according to T&C. How is it theft?

[Wyked]

Nice one

[GoldenMerc]

Hi James,Anyway yeh but its still stealing,Like say you loan a car and it gets stolen surely thats stealing?

[Alkaz]

Its all owned by sulake but your own user name in habbos eyes is yourn and your furniture is youn. So if someone hacks you they must class it as theft.

They must have stolen alot to have stole that much.

[GoldenMerc]

It doesnt say what hotel does it?

[Liz♥]

Clearly it's at a Dutch hotel, otherwise why would the Dutch police be involved lol

[Administrator]

Clearly it's at a Dutch hotel, otherwise why would the Dutch police be involved lol

Maybe the user lived in Amsterdam, however used Habbo UK?

Hi James,Anyway yeh but its still stealing,Like say you loan a car and it gets stolen surely thats stealing?

Yes, however the T&C state that Sulake own the copyright to all purchased.. if you truely owned the furnitures you would be able to sell it for real money to people and remove it from Sulakes servers. Thus, a user moved a peice of furniture from one room to another. Only crime thats been commited is unauthorized access to a users account.

[Roboevil]

[url]I thought no accounts on habbo can be "Hacked" and that all furniture is owned by "Sulake" according to T&C. How is it theft?

It's Dutch Law, could be different.

Its all owned by sulake but your own user name in habbos eyes is yourn and your furniture is youn. So if someone hacks you they must class it as theft.

They must have stolen alot to have stole that much.

I wonder how they'd add up super rares--if he stole any.

[bo$$]

Hmm..

*Scene - Jailcell*
An old grumpy guy sits there looking at the fresh 17 year old

HEY *Angrily* What are you in for? Wanna know what I did? I murdered 18 cops... and then did their wives *Eyes go all whacky*

I.. Um.. I.. -tears come out- st-st-stolee furniture on a g-ggamee..

lolol
I think it's a bit over the top to get someone arrested.. coulda just IP'd them or something.

[Liz♥]

Maybe the user lived in Amsterdam, however used Habbo UK?

I only just saw this article on yahoo news like yourself and that is a valid point but it's unlikely that is possible though.

Why not try and see if any other news people have found out the same find but with a bit more detail?

I think it's from UK

Dutch police have arrested an unnamed 17-year-old on suspicion of having swiped €4,000 worth of furniture from the virtual Habbo Hotel - the first such local arrest for "virtual burglary".

According to Expatica, police say the suspect "allegedly hacked the accounts of other Habbo community members", then "took their furniture and brought it to his own room". Four 15-year-olds were also quizzed about the break-in, and police say the suspects will be charged with "hacking and burglary".

Habbo Hotel - a teen hang-out with 31 communities worldwide - allows yoof to create "Habbos" (avatars), book into the hotel, and furnish their rooms with stuff bought for real cash. ®

The word's Habbo Hotel was hyperlinked and when I clicked it, it took me to Habbo UK
Then again, it mentions it's locally