"eavesdropped"?
"spied"?
Whatever it is, slapping "steal" on it because what was done is wrong, and stealing is wrong, is the same sloppy logic that the copyright lobby used in the 80s/90s.
If 'steal' doesn't fit, then neither do 'eavesdrop' or 'spied'.
If 'steal' doesn't fit, then neither do 'eavesdrop' or 'spied'.