It's Porch Pirate Season Again.

Petty theft is becoming rampant because it's almost become unpunishable. Stores don't confront shoplifters or bother to prosecute, the courts are too backed up to spend much time on theft cases, and even finding theives guilty in court probably won't result in jail time.

This issue has nothing to do with the economy, these people aren't stealing to feed their starving family, they're stealing because they're criminals, they want so they take.

I certainly wouldn't shoot someone for stealing a package but I sure would want to teach them a lesson.
 

C50 said:
Petty theft is becoming rampant because it's almost become unpunishable. Stores don't confront shoplifters or bother to prosecute, the courts are too backed up to spend much time on theft cases, and even finding theives guilty in court probably won't result in jail time.

This issue has nothing to do with the economy, these people aren't stealing to feed their starving family, they're stealing because they're criminals, they want so they take.

I certainly wouldn't shoot someone for stealing a package but I sure would want to teach them a lesson.
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They're stealing because they're poor and can't afford to buy the things they want, and they're never going to be able to afford those things working at some crappy job when most of the money from their paychecks is going towards housing.

Rich people are often able to steal with impunity by committing fraud and often ripping off poor people. But when poor people steal, that's when the law takes action. Rich people can afford the best lawyers; poor people are often stuck with public defenders. Poor people get punished for trivial crimes while the rich can steal millions and never spend a day in prison.
 
RambleTamble said:
They're stealing because they're poor and can't afford to buy the things they want,
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Can't agree with this statement. Being poor doesn't turn one into a criminal. Many of us had periods of being unable to afford the things we wanted. Our paychecks were spoken for before they hit the bank.

I ate plenty of ramen, peanut butter, packaged mac & cheese, etc., during thin times It didn't occur to me to shoplift or steal a package. Like most, I knew that increasing my income was my own responsibility so that's where I focused my energy.

Very few in the US are so poor that they go to bed hungry because numerous safety nets exist.

I'm generally among the most liberal members on SF, but justifying stealing is a bridge too far. Porch pirates aren't hoping to somehow sell the package contents so they can buy bread for their families.
 
RambleTamble said:
They're stealing because they're poor and can't afford to buy the things they want, and they're never going to be able to afford those things working at some crappy job when most of the money from their paychecks is going towards housing.
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They may be poor or they may not, I feel that's irrelevant. Porch pirates for instance aren't stealing what they need or what they even want, they have no idea what is in the boxes. They are stealing because they figure they will get away with it, they see something so they take it, their hope being it's something valuable.

I have a friend that owns a couple of gas stations/convenience stores, you know what are the most shop lifted items? Energy drinks and candy. And guess what? Many times when confronted the theif claims to have "forgot" putting the item in their pocket and offers to pay for it, so they have the money but would rather steal.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
He could have shot up in the air...or shot close enough to them to scare them, but not injure them. In fact, if he yelled...I have a gun and will shoot, that would've probably scare them off. If they posed no immediate threat to him, then no it was not justified. I'm curious too as why so many police officers were still present well after the incident. And as the newscaster said, it will be interesting to see the outcome. Hopefully this incident will discourage others from porch pirating.
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The problem with shooting up in the air is that bullets come down. Sometimes they hit people and injure or kill them.

This incident may scare off some criminals, but by and large, they don't think they will get caught. Or shot.
 
I don't own a gun, never have. Do believe people have the right to own a gun or multiple guns. The friends I have are responsible gun owners they tell me they keep their guns locked in a safe. Makes sense to me.

Keeping that in mind I wonder if the man that did the shooting kept the gun locked up or in a place where he could access it very quickly. From the videos it looks like an affluent neighborhood so I would question where the gun was kept.

Goes to ---was he waiting for a chance to use it or paranoid?
 
C50 said:
Porch pirates for instance aren't stealing what they need or what they even want, they have no idea what is in the boxes.
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That's true most of the time, but large items are often delivered in the boxes they're put in at the factory.

In the past few weeks, I've had a new TV and new speakers left on my porch after I purchased them through Amazon, and it said right on the boxes what was in them along with pictures of the items. I was home and waiting for their arrival, so they were only out there for one or two minutes before I brought them in. Most people can't do that... at least not during the week when they have to work. If I wasn't able to be home when the items were delivered, I would have used a pickup location such as Whole Foods or a pickup locker at UPS or another option, but I wouldn't have them left on the porch.

You can't trust anybody. Like you said, people steal when they think they can get away with it. People will lie or cheat just for the hell of it. I don't leave my car on the street because somebody might vandalize it. It's a safe neighborhood, but people can come in from other neighborhoods and commit acts of vandalism such as stealing the catalytic converter or breaking a window. We only have one vehicle, and it's always in the garage when we're not using it. I also put up security cameras to act as a deterrent. If somebody tries to do something on my property, they're going to be identified, so they probably will choose another house.
 
StarSong said:
Can't agree with this statement. Being poor doesn't turn one into a criminal. Many of us had periods of being unable to afford the things we wanted. Our paychecks were spoken for before they hit the bank.

I ate plenty of ramen, peanut butter, packaged mac & cheese, etc., during thin times It didn't occur to me to shoplift or steal a package. Like most, I knew that increasing my income was my own responsibility so that's where I focused my energy.

Very few in the US are so poor that they go to bed hungry because numerous safety nets exist.

I'm generally among the most liberal members on SF, but justifying stealing is a bridge too far. Porch pirates aren't hoping to somehow sell the package contents so they can buy bread for their families.
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I agree with many of your views and most of what you replied here Star, but disagree with what I've bolded. I've seen you post a similar statement before in the SNAP thread I believe. I don't know what you consider "very few", but according to the website linked below, 47 million Americans go hungry, including 1 in 5 children. Even though there are programs designated to help with the hunger issue, some have unrealistic criteria. Even making $1 over their limit for eligibility negates the possibility of getting help. Some people can barely afford rent, much less food and medications, if needed, so that assistance still may not be enough.

I know two seniors (online friends) whose SNAP benefits were only $16. That won't even buy a weeks worth of food. For one, a long time online friend, if her son didn't help her financially, she wouldn't have been able to make it.
Hunger in America: Causes, Stats, and How to Help | Feeding America
 

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