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Old 01-03-2011, 11:01 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Crime- when would YOU go to the police?

A little bit of back story - I had some property stolen over the holiday, and filed a report with the police last week.

The actual monetary value of the item taken was relatively small (less than $200). It was an item that I was selling for significantly lower than that amount, for personal reasons.

When I went to file the report, the police officer's response was "Really? You want to file a report over this item?"

It led me to the question, where do you draw your line?

In some cases, I'm sure theft occurs simply BECAUSE the item value is so small that the response from law enforcement to the victim is just to suck it up. However, that does not negate the actual act happening, nor put the property back in the owner's hands.

Or, does your approach differ depending on your relationship to the person commiting the crime? In my case, this person was a stranger but had given me personal information that I was able to provide along with my report, as well as information about their background and field of study which made me feel much more strongly about filing a report.

Now I'm waiting for the results of the investigation that I've already been told not to expect any results from. Thoughts?
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Old 01-03-2011, 12:08 PM   #2 (permalink)
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I've had to file reports of stolen scooters so that I would not be held responsible for what happened with them and also to stop being billed by the insurance company for renewal.

When I had insurance the police helped me retrieve my stolen tenor sax.
When an alto sax and flute were stolen that were not insured the police acted like I was the guilty party and did nothing to help me. This was in California in the 1960s.
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Old 01-03-2011, 12:13 PM   #3 (permalink)
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I thought municipalities kept track of crime statistics to determine which areas needed additional police protection, that would include theft, would it not? Even if not, I see nothing wrong with it. Especially if an insurance claim will be filed.
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Old 01-03-2011, 07:23 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Hi Amonkie

I would fantasise about other thefts the person has possibly committed, and the different ability of the other victims to afford the loss. I would also think about how that person is OK with the upset he has caused them. Then I'd straightway report.
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Old 01-03-2011, 08:05 PM   #5 (permalink)
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I've got all my vital things—movies, music, images, work and personal documents, computer settings—triple backed up. I'd call the police if someone stole one of my pianos, my original artwork, my car, or a few select mementos, but otherwise I'd just replace it. In my mind, the police are better suited to respond to violent crimes.
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Old 01-03-2011, 08:44 PM   #6 (permalink)
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It would depend if I catch them at it or not. If someone breaks in while I'm away, and it is of significant value I will report it. If I catch them in the act, there is no way I'm going to tell anyone where I buried them.
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Old 01-03-2011, 08:45 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Amonkie,
You were right to file a report, especially with all the information you had. At least there is a legal record of the incident now, should you need it later. As for the police officer's comment, too bad. You know he won't follow up, but why let the thief get away with the crime, no matter how small, perhaps it is just the start of a very lucrative career for him.
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Old 01-04-2011, 08:52 AM   #8 (permalink)
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file a report for anything of value to you. that way, if you have renters insurance or property insurance that you can claim it on, there is a report available. As to law enforcements 'really?' attitude, it's inevitable. police are only interested in pursuing investigations in to three types of crime....

1) violent crimes with victims
2) burglary and theft crimes with HIGH dollar value, like in the thousands
3) crimes that can provide them with some sort of revenue as a return.
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Old 01-04-2011, 09:39 AM   #9 (permalink)
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It is always better to report it. There is always a chance, no matter how remote, that your item will be found. If you don't report it stolen, the police have no way to get a found or recovered item back to the owner and it will sit in evidence until it is destroyed or sold (depending on state law or department policy). If this item had a serial number and you had that number available, it should already be entered into the national database.

In your case, you also have some information on the possible suspect which is something most people can't provide. Without knowing what kind of personal information you had on the suspect, I can't tell you how likely finding the person will be but it definitely helps.

Sadly, some officers think theft complaints like these are a waste of time. There are many different reasons for this but none of them good enough to justify the behavior.

My advice to you is to follow up on your case. Call the officer every three or four weeks and see if any progress was made. Make sure the department knows that you care about your case and expect results. If you continue to get the "I have better things to do" attitude, call back and ask to speak with the officer's supervisor.
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Old 01-04-2011, 09:47 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Yep, I had the serial number, and the information I gave them was 2 sets of addresses and phone numbers that matched the full (and rather unique) name used on 2 different email addresses.
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Old 01-04-2011, 11:19 AM   #11 (permalink)
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This isn't a question I'd thought about before, but after reading the responses, I think I would report, but not with the expectation of results.
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Old 01-04-2011, 11:21 AM   #12 (permalink)
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I report when it makes sense to report. I'd report this, because well, this individual sounds like an opportunist not really a thief until the opportunity presents itself.

I reported my car getting broken into when it was parked on the street. Nothing was taken, but I wanted there to be documentation that this happened for insurance AND for the community.
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Old 01-04-2011, 11:37 AM   #13 (permalink)
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It's horrible to be met with such an apathetic attitude when we feel it's important, but I think you've got to do it when it feels right. We're supposed to be able to report any crime and not feel like a criminal when doing so, whether it's rape, murder or petty theft. The police are there to protect us and it's obvious the theft made you feel vulnerable.

If I felt like I was legitimately at fault, i.e. left a bicycle at the curb overnight, I wouldn't report it. But if someone conned me (gave you personal info so that you were able to feel comfortable), I would definitely report it.

I don't know about waiting for results, though. I'm not sure I'd feel confident that they would actually investigate the information you were able to provide.
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Old 01-04-2011, 11:44 AM   #14 (permalink)
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Well, I dont know what the law is in the US

In the UK if you want to claim on insurance for something you have to have a crime reference - even if the police just give it to you over the phone.

So anything I had insured I would report to the police. Where I used to live I was burgled three times, I reported the first two but not the last one, as not enough was taken to claim for than the excess on the policy

If I witnessed a property crime of any kind that wasnt me then I doubt I would get involved - its none of my business.

Same with people dealing drugs, hooking, moving stolen goods or fake ID or whatever - couldnt care less about it. The guy who used to live above me dealt and it didnt bother me either way. The only time he ever bothered me was when he threatened to damage my (£200 value) car if I didnt pay him. This was a guy who drove a two year old BMW probably worth £10000 which he parked RIGHT NEXT TO MY CAR.

And that is to me the crux of things.

I dealt with that issue on a personal level.

It is criminal to demand money with menaces of me, as he did. If I reported it to the police it wouldnt have done any good.

The only solution was to deal with personally. If I felt too scared of him to stand up to him the best thing to do is pay - because the police wont do fuck all about something like that. And I felt that I could stand up to him the best thing to do is have a conversation with him and persuade him that threatening to damage my car is not in his best interests after all, as such actions would have a consequence.

While I dont doubt that many policeman are honest individuals in their personal lives, for myself I dont trust the police and keep my dealings with them to a minimum.

Unless we are talking about being a witness to a very serious crime (a rape or a murder of a woman or child) - my view is that it is normally best to stand up for yourself, or if you cant just take it on the chin.

If you burgled reporting it the police for the sake of a crime reference (and in my own experience the police will often give you some recovered stolen property back even if it isnt yours exactly) - thats common sense

In terms of other stuff - my own feeling is deal with it yourself.

---------- Post added at 07:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 PM ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cynthetiq View Post
I report when it makes sense to report. I'd report this, because well, this individual sounds like an opportunist not really a thief until the opportunity presents itself.

I reported my car getting broken into when it was parked on the street. Nothing was taken, but I wanted there to be documentation that this happened for insurance AND for the community.
Erm.... wouldnt that just INCREASE your insurance premium?? (and all of the people in your post code?)

Because as far as I know, when you have fully comp insurance they take into account any reported TDA's and breaking into cars etc and charge you more the more you have. Plus I think it affects your premiums personally?

So... reporting it for the sake of your insurance is just costing you more money next year?

For the sake of you wont get anything back and you know full well the police wont spend one minute even thinking about it after you file your report.
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Old 01-04-2011, 12:02 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by f6twister View Post
It is always better to report it. There is always a chance, no matter how remote, that your item will be found. If you don't report it stolen, the police have no way to get a found or recovered item back to the owner and it will sit in evidence until it is destroyed or sold (depending on state law or department policy).
Plus 1 on this! This is exactly what happened to me. When I was in college somebody stole my bicycle. I wasn't much of a bike, so I kind of just blew it off and didn't report it to the cops.
Several months later my husband and I went to the local county surplus property/police auction, and THERE WAS MY BIKE!!! Other than my say-so there was no way to prove that it was mine, (no license, registration, etc) so they wouldn't just let me have it back because I hadn't made a report at the time of the theft. After the theft, it apparently had been found abandoned on the street somewhere.

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Old 01-04-2011, 01:15 PM   #16 (permalink)
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if you feel you were given short shrift by a member of a governmental entity, you may want to contact your councilman, or ward healer, or whatever they call them in chicago and ask him/her why you were treated that way...
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