Posted on May 6, 2008 by Kathy McManus in Ethics, Law Comments (9)
To Catch a Thief
A stranger steals your personal property. Instead of reporting the theft to authorities, you confront the suspect yourself. Your possessions are returned. You bypass the inconvenience of a police investigation and court appearances, and the offender goes without punishment.
But did you also bypass a responsibility to work within the justice system?
A Florida newspaper reporter observed just such an extra-judicial bartering session between a victim and a thief at the scene of the crime, which, ironically, was a Tampa courtroom.
The victim—whom the reporter referred to as “Pinstripe Suit”—was 52 and in court for a case involving her son. She briefly stepped out of the courtroom, leaving her keys and cell phone behind. When she returned, the keys and phone were gone, and Pinstripe’s seat had been taken by a 25 year-old woman wearing a red velour sweatshirt.
“Red Velour Sweatshirt”, as the reporter dubbed her, denied having seen Pinstripe’s possessions. So Pinstripe walked to the back of the court room, borrowed a cell phone, dialed her own number, and followed the sound of her buzzing phone—in Sweatshirt’s pocket.
Pinstripe plucked the phone out of Sweatshirt’s pocket. Two sheriff’s deputies watched but did nothing.
According to the reporter, Pinstripe then leaned over Sweatshirt and whispered, “I am going to have you arrested if you don’t give me my keys.”
Sweatshirt replied, “I don’t have them.” Pinstripe then parked herself on the seat next to Sweatshirt and waited. And waited. Until finally Sweatshirt pulled a gold Lexus keychain from her other pocket. She dropped it into Pinstripe’s lap and said, “I have enough problems already.”
Noticing that Sweatshirt had started to cry, Pinstripe hugged her and said, “Everything will be all right. Bless your heart.”
Afterwards, Pinstripe told the reporter she didn’t turn Sweatshirt in because she didn’t want her to go to jail.
Sweatshirt already had one arrest for theft, at age 16. Now at 25, she was in court fighting her second arrest, a child abuse charge.
Tell us what you think: Did Pinstripe do a favor for Sweatshirt, or a favor for herself? Was this an act of kindness, a disservice to the justice system, or something else? In similar circumstances, what would you have done?
Comments (9)
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Interesting
I was in a similar position once. A young man, not 18, entered into the video rental/retail store where I was assistant manager. He set off the alarm sensors while leaving, and I asked him to give back what he’d taken. He told me he didn’t take anything, and I told him if he left, I would have to call the police. He did eventually give the video back, and I told him to get out and not come back. I was advised by corporate that I should have called the police and he would have been prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I felt then, as I do now, that while the justice system was not involved, that I did the best thing I could at the time, hoping that he chose a different path… I just couldn’t bring myself to potentially ruin his life over a video tape. Maybe I was wrong but if I had to do it over again, I would not change my choice.
Untitled
Given the amount of times “velour” has been in jail it probably wouldn’t of helped her, she’d do it all over again, but on the other hand since “velour” was in there for child abuse charges, nah I’d report her anyway, child are more important to protect, but since I may not of known her track record if I was trying to get back my items…I don’t know really it seems if the woman was desperate enough to steal out in front of officers and the court that woman needs other help besides jail time, “velour” sounds like my 2 year old sometimes when she feels she’s not getting enough attention she screams at the top of her lungs. Just thought I’d point that out. So I guess I back to square one again, not sure what I’d do.
Personal Responsibility
I have been in situations in which I have tried to enlist police help and was sorely disappointed. If the cop is not in the mood to do anything he will not. My son had a bike stolen right out from under him once and I called the police and not much happened. Even when I hunted down the thief myself and called the officer in charge of the case, nothing happened. No charges were brought, the bike was not returned and, not surprising, every time I tried to approached the kids parents no one was home. He got away with it even though I did what people seem to be terming “the responsible thing”.
This is not the first time that I have been disappointed with the degree in which police officers were willing to commit themselves to crimes that me or my family have been victims of. Of course, I don’t drive a Lexus, but I don’t know anyone who does. My responsibility lies with my family. If I can solve a problem peacefully why drag a disinclined badge with a bad attitude into it.
Untitled
Ugh!…sorry to hear that Tammy, that really bites. It sounds like the child is learning well from his own parents (the thieves). Well I’d let them have the bike. They felt they needed it more for some reason. If you already haven’t, go out and buy a nicer bike for your child; that way you are spoiling yourself for doing the right thing. For now they got away with it, but someday, “what comes around really DOES go around”!
Not very responsible...
I’m trying not to take personal offense to the blanket statements about police officers, as I’m married to one. But I’d like to clear the air here. Police officers have to balance their time effectively and that means focusing on some cases and ignoring others.
Perhaps you’ve noticed the high amount of drunk drivers on the roads every weekend. I’ve followed one myself for 30 miles and called the police 4 times without any response. It’s frustrating to the extreme, but the fact is that there are too many crimes being reported and not enough police to respond.
As responsible citizens, we should think twice the next time we call the authorities to report something. Does our complaint really warrant their help, or is it something we can handle on our own? Perhaps there is someone or something that needs help much more that we do. All of the petty reports being called in simply make it harder for cops to help the people who really need them.
The invisble theives
I work at this gas station in Chicago where I was targeted as a person being too nice not only by my co-workers, but my boss as well. He would always ask me to come in on my off day and I would agree until one day, this officer start come in the store introducing himself and telling us stories about how the previous owner was getting beat and robbed. One day the officer is off duty and some young man came in the store and robbed us by gunpoint, my co-worker was so shook up, she used the bathroom on herself. To my surprise the robbers did not want any thing but cash, not even the young lady’s purse that was in pure site, When the girl’s sister comes to work, she said that the other co-worker’s boy said that some people were going to hit them up a different night. Two months passed and the young girl quit. Some other guys came back trying to rob the place again. That when I had it because my head started hurting. I was having trouble in my apartment complex with people invade me and my boyfriend things. I was talking to him on the phone and people were trying to label me as a thief. They don’t even know what the heck was going on. Lines were tried and they were listening to our conversations, and were catching bits and pieces of what was going on.They started coming in our home when we left, They would always be watching us and they were doing things when my boyfriend left to go to work. it was hared living over there and I had had enough.I went to the police about what was going on. I used to see the men by the cars at night, breaking people’s windows, and it just really started getting on my nerves because other people act like they don’t know what the heck was going on. The police were trying to find them. How could you when the main criminals are still around the complex and you are telling other people to watch out, and the maintenance people were involved. I am not understanding this picture. How can you tell them to watch out for something, they get other people involved when it is none of their business? Someone needs to help with the situation because now I am looking like the criminal.
Untitled
Now my head’s hurting…
Untitled
Sorry Janet but I don’t see how your post connects to the story. Sounds like you need to move out of the city or get a lawyer.
Tough Decisions - Daily
Haven’t we all had the opportunity to make a decision in some manner such as this? To be nice to another person, despite the fact that justice was not served, or to do what is technically, and legally “right”, but then cause possibly more harm?
I had a decision to make like this about 10 years ago. I worked nights and would leave the house around midnight and return about 9am. One night I noticed a man lying in my front yard, apparently drunk and passed out. The legal thing to do would be to call the police. My wife was shaken by the scene and would rather that I not go to work that night. I stayed home for her security, and monitored the man all night. He slept there all night, and then before dawn he awoke, stood, and seemed to gather his bearings. He then started to walk home. I never new who he was, nor what became of him. I feel that sometimes I may have done the right thing for him by not causing him any more trouble with police, than what he probably already had in his life.
I know now that I did not do what was right by this man, nor did I do what I should have. I should have done as I did, but more. I should have helped the man to find his way home safely. I should have offered any other assistance and even placed a blanket on him while he slept that night. Of-course my safety and that of my family was a concern, but I should have gone the extra mile for this man.
To this day, I still remember this incident from ten years ago and wonder how this man is living today. I hope that by not calling in the police his life was able to take a turn for the better and a second chance was offered him. Yet, I feel bad that I did not do more for him, to truly help him.
Pinstripe in the story did a good thing, but did she do all she could have done. How much more effort is it to ask if there was any assistance she needed? Any help with life, any guidance, or advice. In the day and age we live in, there certainly are people doing good things among so much strife, but how many of us are going the extra mile for those around us? Why not take it a step farther? Do the right thing first and then put more effort into our actions and go one above.