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I think it's a little strange they'd even chase someone over two belts and a shirt... I wonder if they knew he was armed, since it was shoplifting and not like

by Keverw 7y ago

I think it's a little strange they'd even chase someone over two belts and a shirt... I wonder if they knew he was armed, since it was shoplifting and not like a bank robbery, but escalated though from there anyways. Just really surprised they'd prioritise such low value items. I know I've heard in some cities like San Francisco, the police are so busy with everything else even cars being broken into or stolen isn't even a high priority. So the police are pretty much useless and only good for just to get it documented for the insurance company. Then, of course, you have to pay for a copy of the police report, and some or maybe even most places won't even accept credit, debit or even checks. Exact change only. Ideally, though no one should steal at all and in the ideal world, everyone who stolen would be caught. My first iPod Touch was stolen in high school, and the police took a report. I even thought I knew who did it... The officer even asked me if I'm sure I didn't misplace it or lose it, trying to blame me I guess. I kinda feel like corporations are more protected than everyday citizens sadly. Maybe a Walmart in a city will bring more income than a single person though is the logic.

LorenPechtel 7y ago
The police aren't interested in investigating low-value cases. However, with a suspect in sight they'll go after them even if it's low-value.
- dls2016 7y ago
  Then why don't they investigate wage theft? Googling around suggests that the cost to the US economy is about the same as shoplifting (and I'm guessing individual cases could be much higher value than shoplifting). When was the last time a battering ram was used in pursuit of a wage thief? Or when was one even arrested? To answer my own questions, police do not care so much about the "value" of the target. Their behavior is much easier to explain once you realize that their job is to protect capital.
  - LorenPechtel 7y ago
    How much wage theft is treated as a criminal matter vs a civil matter? Furthermore, cops aren't exactly skilled at digging out such things. Wage theft is something for the department of labor, not the cops.
  - dzamie 7y ago
    Wage thieves don't flee. There's no adrenaline-pumping chase scene, nothing to tunnel-vision. It's also much harder to see on patrol.
    - playeren 7y ago
      I doubt it's the lack of adrenaline being the main driver for skirting away from "white collar" crime. More likely, the analytical and time consuming work required, and perpetrators who are much more likely to evade capture and/or sentencing, through usage of lawyers, accountants et al. Also, the victims of wage theft are less likely to be "well connected" sponsors of political careers, while the victims of larceny are naturally more often business owners whom are more likely to have a "voice".
rm_-rf_slash 7y ago
My brother had his phone stolen years ago from a gym locker in middle school. The thief was identified within a day and the phone confiscated by police, who kept in in an “evidence” lockup. We tried again and again to get the phone back but they refused. We had to buy a new one. As far as I’m concerned, those cops stole my brother’s phone.

by Keverw 7y ago

LorenPechtel 7y ago

The police aren't interested in investigating low-value cases. However, with a suspect in sight they'll go after them even if it's low-value.

dls2016 7y ago
Then why don't they investigate wage theft? Googling around suggests that the cost to the US economy is about the same as shoplifting (and I'm guessing individual cases could be much higher value than shoplifting). When was the last time a battering ram was used in pursuit of a wage thief? Or when was one even arrested? To answer my own questions, police do not care so much about the "value" of the target. Their behavior is much easier to explain once you realize that their job is to protect capital.
- LorenPechtel 7y ago
  How much wage theft is treated as a criminal matter vs a civil matter? Furthermore, cops aren't exactly skilled at digging out such things. Wage theft is something for the department of labor, not the cops.
- dzamie 7y ago
  Wage thieves don't flee. There's no adrenaline-pumping chase scene, nothing to tunnel-vision. It's also much harder to see on patrol.
  - playeren 7y ago
    I doubt it's the lack of adrenaline being the main driver for skirting away from "white collar" crime. More likely, the analytical and time consuming work required, and perpetrators who are much more likely to evade capture and/or sentencing, through usage of lawyers, accountants et al. Also, the victims of wage theft are less likely to be "well connected" sponsors of political careers, while the victims of larceny are naturally more often business owners whom are more likely to have a "voice".

rm_-rf_slash 7y ago

My brother had his phone stolen years ago from a gym locker in middle school. The thief was identified within a day and the phone confiscated by police, who kept in in an “evidence” lockup. We tried again and again to get the phone back but they refused. We had to buy a new one. As far as I’m concerned, those cops stole my brother’s phone.