Sunday, August 07, 2011

Made Easy For Thieves......

On reading Maffi's blog about the theft of his "Poo Pump", I felt the need to once again have a rant. It sickens me that certain individuals on this planet will use any opportunity, to just help themselves to other peoples property. Do they have that important part of their brain missing that gives them a conscience? or are they just pure evil?

As my title says, it's nice honest people, and I would like to include myself in that category, who do indeed make it easy for thieves. We believe that if we leave anything on our boats, without an armed guard, that when we return it will still be there, because we find it hard to comprehend that anyone would stoop so low as to take it. We naively think that because we wouldn't dream of helping ourselves, that nobody else would, but they do, because they are selfish, and really don't give a damn the repercussions that their sticky fingers create. So what do we do? I am a hundred percent behind what Maffi says in his post, be vigilant, keep a look out, report incidents to the police, but how sad is it that we have to? Will it make any difference, sadly I don't think so, only because, we will all do our bit, only to be let down by the judicial system yet again. Here is a case in point....

As most of you will know I work in a shop, a discount store. We are constantly fighting a battle against thieves. It never ceases to amaze me the calm way in which the pilferers will walk into the store and just help themselves. Now to my case in point, a man walked through my checkout the other day, claiming he had left his wallet on his push bike as you can imagine I was immediately suspicious, even more so as he had a back pack on that was obviously full. I asked my manager to go check the ctv camera's, sure enough this guy had filled his back pack with goods from our store.

This guy was a regular customer, so goodness knows how long he has been " free shopping" in the store. He came in two days later, this time the manager was ready for him.....he watched him on camera, and sure enough within minutes he was helping himself. The manager pulled him up and asked him to empty his bag, which he did with a, " sorry about that mate", he then left the shop with the managers voice ringing in his ears that he was now barred from the shop. Hello?? I was off that day and was gobsmacked to hear that the police were not called, and why? because I was told it was a waste of time, and sadly I can't help but agree. Our nearest police station is just over the road from the shop, most of the time it is locked up and unmanned?? You ring the police, who say they will be out as soon as they can, three hours later no sign, in the mean time what do you do with the thief you have apprehended? Lock him in a cupboard? Maybe show him the in store catalogue so he can plan what to pinch on his next visit to the store. Even if they are caught and sent to court, it's usually the same story, a slap on the wrist and don't do it again. Laughable isn't it?

We have a huge poster in our Canteen of well known robbers who frequent our store's, it does help because we do recognise them as soon as they come in, so they can be quickly asked to leave, it would please me more if they were asked to leave with a good hefty kick up the backside, but heaven forbid, the police would be there quick smart then, and we would be, "done"! Most of the mugshots on our poster are of repeat offenders, who are actually posing for the photo's with smiles on their faces, as if proud of themselves. One woman's mugshot looks as if she is posing for a bloody fashion shoot, another guy is nonchalantly reading a newspaper??

If I had my way , and I am sure Maffi would agree, these scumbags should be tattooed across the forehead, THIEF in bright letters that light up in the dark, also be tagged so that every time they walk into a shop or try and steal peoples property, the tag would deliver a nice painful electric shock, that could maybe have an after shock that would have them sitting on the toilet for a good few hours. Cruel? maybe, but not half as cruel as taking peoples belongings that they have honestly worked and paid for. The situation is never going to really change, until the punishment fits the crime....As far as I can see, at the minute, there isn't sufficient punishment for these," petty thieves", and who came up with the title "petty"? Far from petty if you ask me...

8 comments:

Dave Winter said...

Coulden't agree with you more,the only thing I would add is that the huge poster in your canteen of well known robbers should be plastered all over your shop front windows,then again I suppose it's against their human rights.

life afloat on nb tickety boo said...

You hit the nail on the head Dave. The owner of the Stores wanted to do just that but was told he wasn't allowed?

Unknown said...

He possibly could post it in the window if enough people ask for it under the Freedom of Information Act, on the basis that so many asked he didnt have enough time to tell them all so he posted the poster in the window.

Debbie said...

To be honest Maffi, he did put the mugshots up in the store for the public to see, he also posted them on the internet. They have since been removed as far as I know, not sure why. I am surmising it was a legal matter ??

Alan said...

From NB bUGGERLUGS
I agree with all comments where DO we go from here these scumbags have lost all respect not jusst for other people and others property but the sad thing is they have lost respect for themselves I find this the saddest aspect If you count one section of society maybe we could find an answer but these SB are fron all sides of society All we can do is look out for each other. I know thw police are slow to respond but really would any one swap jobs I wouldnt last a day I would be had up for GBH I could'nt control my temper with the Scumbags thats why I hope I never catch them nicking from my boat or damageing it I would not be responsible for my action
Thanks Debbie for alowing me a good old rant
Big Al

life afloat on nb tickety boo said...

Hi Alan, you can have a rant here any time you wish! It is frustrating though, I have to say at this stage, as much as I moaned about the police not turning up, I understand it isn't always their fault due to job cuts. Ironically, I wrote this post the day before the riots kicked off, more thieving only on a grander scale. I was disgusted watching it on tv. One of the worst incidents was the injured guy who was being helped up, only to have his rucksack opened and a scum bag to help himself, beyond belief! I was thrilled to see they had him up in court, sadly he won't get the comeuppance he deserves, same story different day......

Unknown said...

Hello
Been reading for a while but don't comment much. But I will today!
I agree, I said much the same thing during the riots, why didn't the police just use water cannons or baton rounds? The rioters were nothing more than thieves using any excuse to rob shops and I was shot down in flames by the do good brigade, one who told me, we disproportionately jail people and there is nothing for them to do blah blah blah. Although I agree prison doesn't necessarily work, why the hell can't your manager put their pictures out on public display? They don't seem to care who see's them when they are marched out of the shop. We are too namby pamby with criminals these days and I am sick of hearing why they can't have their human rights violatated while, honest hard working people can!! Sorry!! Great blog by the way. Want to do what you are doing myself one day, so I may email for tips. :-)

life afloat on nb tickety boo said...

Hi Carol, thank you for the comment about my blog, and feel free any time to email for any tips or info I can help you with. Don't apologise for your rant, you, me and many many more people out there are sick to the back teeth of criminals being treated with kid gloves, sadly it needs drastic measures to change and zero tolerance, it's all very well government banging on about things have to change, but when? Same story different day!