Originally Posted by Strange Famous

first offense you get probation or a community service order. We had a guy who stole $60,000 of gas from our company on fraudulent credit card usage... he got 40 hours community service. But obviously crime with a corporate victim is far less serious in the eyes of the police and court.

3rd or 4th offence burgulary you would probably get 18 months, serve 9...

If you bash someone over the head and steal their cell phone in the street you get 2 years (1 year served obv)... if you break into their house and nick their phone and TV and wallet, you get promotion... its just the way the law works.

In the UK, the police will not visit your house if you get broken into. They will give you a police no for insurance claim and thats it. Basically, unless they are caught red handed, house break in's are not normally investigated. The police investigate seriously all violent crime, some drug stuff, car crim (ie speeding etc, cos it is low cost high return) and thats about it, they simply have limited resource and put it where they can... its simply to expensive to put every robber or petty drug dealer in jail and keep them there are $120,000 a year. They cost less to be left on the streets.