Everybody Wang Chen Tonight
First we have to read an article about a local grocer who is being tried for combating a shoplifter – READ THIS ARTICLEOkay – so that was fun.
Anyone reading this in the U.S. is probably shaking their heads, wondering why Wang Chen didn’t just shoot the guy and become a hero. Different laws folks. I almost wrote “different laws I’m afraid” but in some way it’s different laws and I am happy about that.
Based on what I have read about this case (and of course I am not a lawyer) it’s fairly clear that the victim in the story is Wang Chen, who defended and protected his property and in turn the thief who is being portrayed as a scum-of-the-earth-crack-addict (who is really into floral displays apparently), petty thief and is now being treated as the victim by the police and courts.
Obviously we don’t get all of the story here and the courts probably won’t either, but what I found most interesting in the article which I believe would apply in virtually any country in the free world (what is the free world anyway?) is the following:
Detective Chris Trites said shoplifting is a problem everywhere. He said it's not fair to cast stones at police for not cracking down enough.
“It's easy for people to say things like, ‘You should do something about drugs' or, ‘You should do something about theft,'” he said. “If people really want to help, then they should be offering some sort of positive solutions or positive ideas.”
Let me start by saying that chasing, catching and tying up a man is possibly not the most positive solution, and the cops hate vigilantes in this city, but basically what Wang Chen did should be seen by everyone (including the cops) as something of a solution.
I would hate for a shop owner to do something like this and find that the man they are chasing has a weapon and thereby see a tragic ending to something as simple as a shoplifting, but it frightens me that police can do nothing but tell it’s citizens to stop blaming them and start doing something, but don’t do anything lest we need to arrest you. Mixed message?
In my ‘hood we have seen an incredible increase in swarmings and muggings over the past 6-8 months. Basically what has happened is the petty thieves have been forced from their own ‘hoods for two reasons;
1.
it’s not safe – you pull a knife on a man and ask him for his wallet and you will be shot
2.
Police presence is too high in the high crime areas of Toronto – making the thieves take their road shows elsewhere
When you think of it though, where would you want to be a thief – in a ghetto, where you are stealing junk and or stolen stuff, or in a nice neighbourhood, where the kids have expensive toys like iPhones, Tiffany’s and $200.00 boots from Australia? Police are quick to tell you that the increase in crime in the nicer areas is due to this reason as well as the kids in these areas are told to hand it over, and walk away – never put up a fight.
Funny I can’t get my kid to listen to one thing I say, but this rule he and his friends are quick to adhere to.
There is no solution to Wang Chen’s dilemma, nor is there a solution to Chris Trites demands.
My opinion is that the police in this city are doing a fantastic job with limited resources.
Our illustrious quack of a mayor says that reported crime is down significantly – the key to that statement is “reported”. I suspect that this city is more criminally challenged than ever. Stand with your local grocery store owner for 15 minutes – he’ll likely stop a conversation and say “what this guy over here” and we’ll stand by and watch “this guy” as he places a $15.00 pound of coffee into his jacket along with a side of ribs and two bricks of cheese. Try it – I did and it was sobering.
“Why don’t you send someone after him, why not call the cops?” I ask
“The cops won’t be here for over an hour – the guy will have sold the coffee and cheese or gone home to feed his family. Head office have instructed us to let the people go – it’s too dangerous to defend, I’ll get the money back – that cost is built into the prices you pay” is his response.
That’s great to know. I just paid $15.00 for a pound of coffee that should have cost me $13.00 because of an unreported crime. In the old days (pre this goofball that is our mayor) Tom would have called the cops. He says so – but with Cops having a different set of objectives to work towards, we just choose to ignore petty crimes, and pity be the fool who takes his own money into account and tries to fight crime, because you live in a country that believes that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and even then the tie goes to the runner!
posted by G.M. Shier @ Thursday, October 22, 2009
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