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pilfering the law

To commit a small, negligible crime, such as jaywalking or accidentally littering. Usually used jokingly to denote how negligible the crime is.

Comes from "to pilfer" meaning to steal something little of value. So it's literally "pilfering" the law.
John accidentally steals a pencil from a restaurant.
William: Dude! You're pilfering the law!
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