One of my neighbors’ home was burglarized last weekend. The perpetrator(s) took lots of electronic stuff (two laptops, stereo equipment, iPod, speakers, etc.). But the most bizarre thing happened after that.
Remember that episode of Seinfeld where Jerry’s car was stolen, and he called his car phone and the guy who stole his car answered? Well, truth is stranger than fiction. I just got an e-mail from my neighbor where he related this exchange:
And another interesting note, one of them used my wife’s computer today to get on the internet (her Windows Messenger icon came online). I had a chat with him and he actually responded. He actually told me he was using the internet in a public place—then later told me it was at a McDonalds. He told me that I could buy the laptop back off of him for $500. I agreed. He then backed off because he was scared I would call the cops. He then told me that I have too much confidence in our police and that they won’t do anything. He said that he could do the same thing again and still won’t be caught.
I suppose all criminals are cocky like that, believing they’ll never get caught. Still, according to witnesses, this crime was committed in the middle of the day, in broad daylight. And the shameless perp has no fear of having a conversation with the person from whom he stole. And, this particular perp’s confidence is not in his personal craftiness, but in his perception that the police department “won’t do anything.”
What could be giving Peoria thieves that impression? I’m afraid I don’t have any answers.
How about our “criminal justice system” is broken?
and the Police spend too much time on, shall we say, “revenue producing activities”, rather than fighting crime?
Revenue producing activities? Mmm… no… you just don’t see Peoria police pulling too many folks over. Certainly not in my neighborhood with its 2600 passing through cars who speed and run stop signs.
We just do not have enough police officers and the city council and the electorate simply are not serious enough about the problem. We need way more than 5 or 10 officers.
What irked me most about that e-mail was that some neighbors bore witness and apparantly were not bothered enough to call the police.
Not only is the police response perceived as luke warm but when neighbors aren’t looking out for neighbors, you have the makings for a serious problem.
Your neighbor needs to find a technie, to help him track down the thief – I’m pretty sure that’s possible, but I’m no techie, even remotely. Gotta be some way, though…
And since when does Mickey D’s have WIFI?!
I agree with Mahkno. You just don’t see police pulling over cars all that often. Traffic enforcement is a joke in Peoria. We do need more patrol officers and the city doesn’t want to admit it. If this isn’t true, then our police are not doing their jobs. No one expects the police to catch every criminal in the act or catch every speeder but on the other hand I don’t loike seeing 3 or 4 police officers parked at Jumer’s AMOCO. The other burning question I have; What McD’s has wifi? If Bill Dennis finds out, their Big Mac sales will increase 10 fold.
Have you heard about the scam where the guy disables your car, then offers to fix it, and charges you anywhere from $55. to $125.00? The police caught him, then the court let him out on bail. Now he’s at it again in East Peoria and he has disappeared. It’s not always the police’s fault crooks aren’t behind bars.
Well, you are presumed innocent before you have a trial and therefore have the right to post bond. The judge had to weigh in on that before setting bond. This guy is stupid. The police caught him because he gave his address and name to one of his victims. You can’t fix stupid but you can improve enforcement. I don’t think he is at it again, just that he did the same things in E Peoria before he was caught here. Most victims didn’t realize they were even evolved in a scam but after the news broke, some started to come forward. This guy was handed to the police by the crook’s own hand. No police work evolved here and it’s yet to be seen if he shows for court.
I think the McDonald’s in Morton has WiFi.