The kind of night that makes you want to scream

[Mythsaje]

Someone tried to steal my car tonight out of the parking lot at work. Really irritating because it's a real piece of shit. The driver's door won't lock because some mechanics managed to break the window mechanism (I have no idea how they managed it) so it won't roll up and down and if you try to engage the lock it gets tangled in the window mechanism and doesn't work at all. Since I can't lock it, I let the coffee cups and bottles and other stuff accumulate, since who in their right mind would want to mess around inside a car that is basically a rolling recycle bin?

Apparently these guys. The security guy at work was on the ball. They came in, bought a screwdriver, and left. He thought it was rather weird, so did a scan of the parking lot with the camera from his office. Spotted them around and inside the car and so called the security guy who patrols the shopping center lot. He came around in his golf cart with his little flashing light and they ran off.

They'd managed to pop my ignition and all they'd have needed was a minute or so to start it with a screwdriver. I know that because that's how I started it to drive home.

I was pretty pissed. Okay, I was really pissed.

Then I get a text message from my ex, asking me to give her a call. I rang her up about five minutes before my lunch was over and we talked about presents for the boys for a few minutes. Then I made a political remark so she had to tell me this stupid political joke.

I mean stupid. She's apolitical--she distrusts all politicians equally. Not the wisest point of view, but I can understand it. She's cynical about everything, so it goes with the territory.

Anyway, this joke was about how you can tell people of different political pursuasions apart based on how they react if someone tries to mug them at gunpoint. How the dems would start discussing the social ramifications of actually giving them money (whatever), the how the repugs would pull out a gun and have a shootout, and how an independent (whatever the hell that is) pulls out a gun, empties the magazine, reloads, and repeats.

I told you it was a stupid joke. I'm not sure how it's even a joke. Sad, really. She used to have the best jokes.

My response was the Republican would probably whip out his wee-wee and want some oral action before forking over the cash. The way I see it, that's one hell of a lot funnier than the other way.

So needless to say I'm annoyed tonight. Work was hectic, we ended up leaving the store in much worse shape than I like, and I'm still debating whether or not to file a police report. The two perps were little more than kids--late teens, early twenties, maybe--and, while I would be tempted to give them a sound thrashing, I'm also aware the cops really won't give a shit. The security guy at work wants me to and, frankly, I probably should just on the off chance they can be stopped before they pull it on the next person.

But it seems that even if they were caught and charged, they'd either get a slap on the wrist or a punishment far beyond what the crime was worth. The notion of them going to prison to become somebody's prey in exchange for trying (or even succeeding) to steal my car just makes me twitchy. A drubbing, sure. Some of the stuff that can happen in there, and all too often does? Not pleasant to contemplate.

So I find myself in a moral quandry and it bugs me that I am.

[krispos42]

1. Report it

Most criminals commit many crimes, hurt many people, and cost honest, innocent people lots of money, time, and mental anguish before they get caught.

Face it, these kids are experience at this. They're not going to have a "revelation" and become honest, hardworking people tomorrow morning. No life-changing events or people are in the forecast.

If the cops catch them, it will almost certainly be after they've ripped of another car or three, so your attempt will be added to the list of charges they will be facing.

This has to stop. This has to stop before they graduate up to carjacking or home invasions. And people get hurt.

[Mythsaje]

4. There's nothing saying they would graduate

to car-jackings or home invasions. Car theft isn't a violent crime. It's obnoxious in the extreme, but hardly violent.

I think I will report it, though every instinct in me tells me to avoid the system at all costs (considering I think it's corrupt and borderline evil itself) but I'm not sure I can give this a pass.

[krispos42]

6. Well, they're probably going to be moving up in the criminal world.

However, even if they don't, they're still going to be stealing people cars whenever they need a ride someplace or some money for something

But do it soon, while the memories are still fresh and the videotape is still available. I assume that after a few days they get recorded over.

[grasswire]

2. there's another alternative, perhaps

If they were caught and charged, you could perhaps intercede and ask that they be given (if they weren't already wanted for a dozen other things) stiff community service and supervision instead of jail time. There's a whole movement called "restorative justice" in which the victim can be a participant in the process and hopefully divert someone from jail to a more useful punishment, keeping them out of the "school for crime" that is incarceration and saving the taxpayer the enormous cost of custody.

[Mythsaje]

3. That's not a bad idea, really.

I suppose I'll call it in tomorrow and see what comes of it.

[grasswire]

5. do you think they were juveniles?

Here's a link to a site about restorative justice for juveniles in Washington state. http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/jra/RestJustice.shtml

[Skittles]

7. someone emailed me that stupid joke

I replied to all, no, as a liberal I would have blown the SOB away - and since I was trained to shoot in the military, unlike most repuke chickenhawks, i'd probably be a better shot than them. :D Your response was HILARIOUS.

File a police report - you never know what those guys will do next. Frankly, I'm surprised the security guys didn't file a report.