petty theft, like all theft, is not merely criminal - it is an act of violence and should be treated as such. Very much like children, people operating at this

petty theft, like all theft, is not merely criminal - it is an act of violence and should be treated as such. Very much like children, people operating at this level of development (god help them) will expand their behaviors to fit into whatever vacuum is present. Your "petty theft" graduates to "petty theft inside a home" which graduates to "petty theft inside a home oops there's a guy here oops now somebody is dead". "We don't throw poor people in prison just because they had to break into a car to get money for their daily dose of crack." I am part of that "we" and I say shame. Shame on you for lacking even the basic fortitude to respond to violence. Shame on you for excusing that violence in a bartered exchange for whatever moral permissiveness you, yourself, desire.