I recovered a stolen camera today!

[Plasmat]

This sometimes happens in New York City. I'm just advising caution. You get angry, drug addicted thieves who might seek revenge on someone who reports them. It's a dangerous world. Maybe he'll face a long prison sentence because of his priors and he'll blame the guy who turned him in. This original poster works in a store and the thief knows where to find him. He may also feel he was "tricked" or set up. You never know what's going on in the head of a criminal.

It's better sometimes to err on the side of your own safety.

In my opinion, the best thing to do would have either to have bought the camera for a small amount and return it, but not confront the guy in the store and make oneself a possible target of the thief.

 

[Ash]

if you get the police in, always act like they turned up unannounced. never accept responsibility, and if you can, never write a statement. I've dealt with enough nasty people.

Don't worry though. Chances are the guy will get a fine or a petty sentence, and if he listened to you rambling to kill time, he's definitely not the nastiest of people. The ones to watch out for are the ones who don't have time to wait

 

[FrankS]

"It's better sometimes to err on the side of your own safety."

At the expense of the good of society? That is a coward's way, IMO. The world needs more good people to stand up for what's right, not to cower in fear of a possible consequence to themselves. What do you suppose a society would be like if all/most people took that attitude? In this case I believe one is either part of the problem or part of the solution. I choose to do the right thing (and respect others who do the same) simply because it's the right thing to do. And in this case it was the right thing.

I willingly concede that there are many instances where the "right thing" is a matter of interpretation, but this is not one of those.

 

[rbiemer]

And Chris will not be the only person/thing this thief will blame; he will be blaming every one and everything except himself and his actions for ending up in jail.
Chris, you did the right thing here.
Rob

 

[Plasmat]

To each his own.

I would not put myself at the same risk over a camera. Maybe you would.

In Brooklyn recently, a man bought a used cell phone from a craigslist seller still filled with phone numbers. He called the numbers and found it was stolen and had the seller arrested. The thief was out on bail the same day and shot the guy who reported him.

Would I do the same? No. Maybe I'm not an absolute moralist.

 

[Ash]

I think you have the right idea at heart Frank, but in reality it's not so easy.

The other day I went into the old secondhand shop, and T was behind the counter, he wasn't too pleased since earlier, this guy (for my own sake, 'R') R came in. R is a junkie and if he goes to prison, he goes down for something nasty. He walked in, told them to turn the security cams off, put a LCD monitor from the display shelves into a bag, then demanded £100 a week.

T told the Roll (the guy who owns the shop) he wouldn't work there anymore. He isn't getting his legs broke for £100 a week wages, because he can't pay someone else £100 a week as well.


Course. No-one gets the police involved, and the shop hasn't been open in days.

This is a real life example of cowardice. But you know what? I would do the same and anyone who would still work in a store after that kinda threat, and report R to the police would probably not be in a nice state too shortly.


Nasty people don't think sensible. They think nasty. We need more moral people to stop wars and stop handbag snatchers on the street, but when it comes down to some people, I turn a blind eye, and I do it to protect myself and those I'd 'take a bullet' for.


Course, we've all blown this out of proportion. someone got caught for a crime. that's the end of it.

 

[Plasmat]

Exactly my point.

 

[kmack]

Don't sweat it Chris, you did the right thing. The chances are very low that a camera thief who never heard of *-bay would be the type to retaliate violently.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I concur in that the matter was risky, but this guy was a petty thief and dumb to top it all. I don't believe he'll come back to haunt Chris. He may have learned his lesson and not go to a camera store trying to fence hot cameras again.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Excellent; hot goods recovered. The rest, well, that's what there's a "system" for.

I'm sure the owner was glad that you didn't say "it's somebody else's problem, not mine". Good for you, Chris.

 

[Stephen23]

Perhaps the voices in this thread that advise non action could think on this...

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

 

[FrankS]

Excellent. Well put.

 

[fgianni]

Perhaps the voices in this thread that advise non action could think on this...

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Well said!

 

[ferider]

Well done, Chris. I had a camera stolen once, cut off my shoulder in a crowd, a completely restored PEN FT, and it sucked !

 

[Pherdinand]

Well done! I was hoping something similar would happen to the *******s that stole my cameras 2 years ago... but no, they are gone forever.

 

[vladhed]

I think to assessed the situation properly and it is nice to know that there are still people out there that are smart enough to be always thinking of the greater good such that they have the courage to do the right thing.

 

[Jamie123]

That guy really deserves going to jail. I mean, you gotta be a little smarter than that if you want to lead a life of crime 🙂
Instead of stealing cameras from the college he should've stolen some books.

 

[Pherdinand]

Question:
Should someone stealing a camera for his own use (and cought) get a smaller punishment, than one that tries to sell it?

 

[Ash]

Question:
Should someone stealing a camera for his own use (and cought) get a smaller punishment, than one that tries to sell it?

Theft is theft.

 

[Pherdinand]

Theft is theft.

Yeah, sure, but GAS is GAS 😀