I write about people I read about in news articles but last week, I actually had my own personal encounter with a dumb criminal.
Last Thursday, around 4pm, I had some time to kill before work so I decided to go to Jamba Juice. As I pull in and park, I watch a guy, probably in his late teens to mid 20's, come running out of Jamba Juice holding two tip jars full of cash and coins and jump into a waiting car with the door open. I sat there for a second thinking, "Really, dude? Are you serious right now? In broad daylight?" So, I quickly wrote down the license plate number before they were out of my sight and called the police department's non emergency number and gave them all the information I could. As I was on the phone with them, I could see some of the workers talking and come outside looking around for the guy.
At the time, there was about six other people around who saw this happen and not one of them did anything or called police except me. I get it. He probably wanted the money for drugs and probably only got about $20 but still. Those people are working hard for that money. I don't care how much it is, that is their earned dollars. And if this guy does it there, how many other places is he doing it? I work in a restaurant and I have to worry every night about being robbed as I walk to my car. This guy robbed them in broad daylight. I posted my encounter on Facebook and other people were telling me how someone is going around stealing tip jars from all the Starbucks in town. Honestly, it's probably the same person. This is someone who, instead of bettering themselves and getting a job and earning his own money, is going around taking money from people who are actually working for it. It's pathetic and disgraceful.
After I got off the phone, I went inside. I told them how I saw the whole thing, got the license plate number, and have already called the cops for them. They thanked me. Then I ordered my Jamba Juice, paid for it, and while I waited the lady told her manager who also thanked me. I grabbed my smoothie when it was ready and headed off to work.
The officer on the case called me that night to get my statement and said there was someone in custody. He also said they were going by the house the car was registered under so they could arrest the driver too. When I asked how much he got, I couldn't help but laugh. "Around $15." Wow. You are gonna have a misdemeanor charge for theft on your record because of $15. You are gonna start yourself a rap sheet over $15 and chances are, that is not the first time.
It amazes me how some people don't want better for themselves. They do dumb stuff like this and make it harder for themselves to get jobs and be successful. It turns into a cycle. Can't get a job->steal money->get arrested and charged for stealing->can't get a job because of a theft conviction->steal more money and bigger items and so on and so forth. Pretty sad.
It also amazes me that all those people witnessed this and I was the only one who did something. That's not right. If something like this happened to them they would be hoping someone would help/do something. Again, I don't care how little the amount of money is or how petty the crime is, someone is affected by it. You never know how bad someone needs even the littlest amount they are working hard for.
Don't ever underestimate the value of something to someone.
