I don't know where you are located but stealing anything is illegal all around the world, bitcoin is a currency or even according to governments at least a commodity, of course stealing it is considered illegal, Whether the thief gets caught or not is not the question.
Yes i doesnt matter weather you are living in any country stealing anything is an illegal activity and bitcoins is a currency and has a good value in USD or any other currency.So stealing bitcoin certainly would also be an illegal activity doesnt matter in which form you are doing it.
That is right just like stealing fiat currency bitcoin is the same just like the recent report on CNN last year about 2 former federal agents charged with stealing Bitcoin during Silk Road probe at $33 million dollar at the time had bring to justice in the court, well I think that is very reliable news source right, so that means even if bitcoin is an online currency stealing bitcoin is also a form of stealing money!
It's common sense now that stealing is stealing. There's nothing changing that. However, please do consider looking into op's situation because what I can assess here is that you guys dind't read it at all.
He says he overlapped an address and he got the amount from that address he overlapped from and the owner would have no way to get it back. So would it be stealing to get it to keep for himself or not?
I think you are the one who's not reading here my friend! and just look at OP's first word there that I highlighted
Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else.
Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.
he says there "Let's say" right? that means it is just an example that means he's not referring to a real situation and he is asking if he will take the money is legal and in his last sentence he is just interested to know!
I think you are the one that needs to read first before exclaiming something that my understanding is wrong!