A Civil Discussion with a Burglar!

[Debater Slayer]

Last night, a civil and respectable burglar broke into my place. I caught him while he was trying to carry my valuables away. I sat down, offered him tea, and asked him why he would do such a thing. I always try to have civil discussion with others to understand their beliefs, because partisanship is a terrible and prejudiced thing.

The burglar seemed hesitant to talk at first. I have no idea why he answered my invitation to a cordial discussion with "**** off if you don't want to be hurt." But it was too late. Way too late! His incivility and refusal to consider both sides had already deeply hurt me. I didn't care for my valuables at that point. All I was thinking of was how awful and biased this world is.

I started crying and rushed to call the police. Unfortunately, they came too late because I spent an hour explaining both sides to the officer on the phone. After carefully analyzing and weighing both my position and the burglar's, he decided the police should come and arrest the guy. He was surprised when he found that the burglar had escaped when the police arrived.

I consoled them by reminding them that nothing matters as long as we all stay civil, unbiased, and united. Those who want to hurt burglars instead of hearing them only want division and bigotry to prevail. I will not let them win, even if it means my entire house gets robbed!

(I'm typing this while sitting on the floor because even my couch got stolen. But I'm still happy! Don't let the partisans win!)

 

[SalixIncendium]

And a good thing you approached this as you did. I'm not sure I'd want to instigate a physical confrontation with a burglar who was strong enough to walk out your door with a couch by himself.

Hopefully you told the police to be on the lookout for a guy walking down the street with a couch on his back. Should be quite easy to spot.

Also, your police department leaves something to be desired if it took them an hour to decide whether or not to dispatch a unit to investigate.

On a final note, whether what you experienced could be referred to as a burglary or robbery is debatable.

 

[Revoltingest]

There he is!

 

[Debater Slayer]

And a good thing you approached this as you did. I'm not sure I'd want to instigate a physical confrontation with a burglar who was strong enough to walk out your door with a couch by himself.

Hopefully you told the police to be on the lookout for a guy walking down the street with a couch on his back. Should be quite easy to spot.

Also, your police department leaves something to be desired if it took them an hour to decide whether or not to dispatch a unit to investigate.

On a final note, whether what you experienced could be referred to as a burglary or robbery is debatable.

The jerk left without even drinking the tea I made for him!

(I'm thankful to have never experienced either, but how would you personally distinguish between burglary and robbery in a hypothetical situation like that?)

 

[SalixIncendium]

The jerk left without even drinking the tea I made for him!

What kind of tea was it?

(I'm thankful to have never experienced either, but how would you personally distinguish between burglary and robbery in a hypothetical situation like that?)

Burglary, in my understanding, is breaking in and taking property that does not belong to you without consent. Robbery, as I understand it, is taking property that does not belong to you without consent and by threat or force.

I think the "**** off if you don't want to be hurt" changed the scenario from burglary to robbery.

 

[Revoltingest]

....how would you personally distinguish between burglary and robbery in a hypothetical situation like that?)

Approximately....
Robbery - You're home
Burglary - You're away

 

[ChristineM]

The jerk left without even drinking the tea I made for him!

(I'm thankful to have never experienced either, but how would you personally distinguish between burglary and robbery in a hypothetical situation like that?)

Robbery uses force, violence or the threat of violence to steal your property

Burglary is the entrance as a trespasser with to steal your property.

 

[Cooky]

Robbery uses force, violence or the threat of violence to steal your property

Burglary is the entrance as a trespasser with to steal your property.

in most places, it becomes robbery the second the owner becomes present on the scene. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Thief]

Last night, a civil and respectable burglar broke into my place. I caught him while he was trying to carry my valuables away. I sat down, offered him tea, and asked him why he would do such a thing. I always try to have civil discussion with others to understand their beliefs, because partisanship is a terrible and prejudiced thing.

The burglar seemed hesitant to talk at first. I have no idea why he answered my invitation to a cordial discussion with "**** off if you don't want to be hurt." But it was too late. Way too late! His incivility and refusal to consider both sides had already deeply hurt me. I didn't care for my valuables at that point. All I was thinking of was how awful and biased this world is.

I started crying and rushed to call the police. Unfortunately, they came too late because I spent an hour explaining both sides to the officer on the phone. After carefully analyzing and weighing both my position and the burglar's, he decided the police should come and arrest the guy. He was surprised when he found that the burglar had escaped when the police arrived.

I consoled them by reminding them that nothing matters as long as we all stay civil, unbiased, and united. Those who want to hurt burglars instead of hearing them only want division and bigotry to prevail. I will not let them win, even if it means my entire house gets robbed!

(I'm typing this while sitting on the floor because even my couch got stolen. But I'm still happy! Don't let the partisans win!)

I don't know.......

it seems.....Thou shalt not steal .....

rings in my ears

 

[ChristineM]

in most places, it becomes robbery the second the owner becomes present on the scene. Nothing more, nothing less.

Well the US states all have there individual law's, fortunately i am not bound by any of them so use what is typical in the other 95% of the world

 

[Yerda]

Last night, a civil and respectable burglar broke into my place. I caught him while he was trying to carry my valuables away. I sat down, offered him tea, and asked him why he would do such a thing. I always try to have civil discussion with others to understand their beliefs, because partisanship is a terrible and prejudiced thing.

The burglar seemed hesitant to talk at first. I have no idea why he answered my invitation to a cordial discussion with "**** off if you don't want to be hurt." But it was too late. Way too late! His incivility and refusal to consider both sides had already deeply hurt me. I didn't care for my valuables at that point. All I was thinking of was how awful and biased this world is.

I started crying and rushed to call the police. Unfortunately, they came too late because I spent an hour explaining both sides to the officer on the phone. After carefully analyzing and weighing both my position and the burglar's, he decided the police should come and arrest the guy. He was surprised when he found that the burglar had escaped when the police arrived.

I consoled them by reminding them that nothing matters as long as we all stay civil, unbiased, and united. Those who want to hurt burglars instead of hearing them only want division and bigotry to prevail. I will not let them win, even if it means my entire house gets robbed!

(I'm typing this while sitting on the floor because even my couch got stolen. But I'm still happy! Don't let the partisans win!)

You really shouldn't have called the police. If this man is arrested it will only lead to further incivility and division. The first step in healing is pretending it never happened.

 

[Cooky]

You really shouldn't have called the police. If this man is arrested it will only lead to further incivility and division. The first step in healing is pretending it never happened.

The best thing to do in such situations is to actually assist the criminal with carrying, to ensure he doesn't hurt his back.

The neglect by the OP, in failing to assist, shows a level of incompassion on his part.

 

[Thief]

as I recall scripture.....a Thief was called to follow the Carpenter into paradise

well then.....one thief....to another.....
I might ask

how's it going?

 

[Thief]

and then I might point out.....what he is trying to make off with....

was stolen property in the first place

 

[Revoltingest]

and then I might point out.....what he is trying to make off with....

was stolen property in the first place

Did you steal the sofa?
Or one of your PJ clad cronies?

 

[sun rise]

I have the perfect song for this thread:

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

 

[Orbit]

The jerk left without even drinking the tea I made for him!

(I'm thankful to have never experienced either, but how would you personally distinguish between burglary and robbery in a hypothetical situation like that?)

A burglary occurs when you aren't home. A robbery involves contact.

 

[Cooky]

A burglary occurs when you aren't home. A robbery involves contact.

Who to you that..!?!?!

...Why should anyone take your word for it..?

 

[JustGeorge]

I've never talked to someone while they committed a crime against me, but I've talked to those who commit crimes while they weren't actively doing so.

We have a real problem with gangs in my city. A neighbor was involved in one(of whose members eventually tried to kill us), and talking to him when his 'crew' wasn't around was probably not what you expected.

Sure, when they were there, he behaved like an idiot. But when they left, he'd just sit on his porch, listen to music on the phone, smoke a cigarette, etc.

My husband and I asked once why he got wrapped up in that nonsense. Honestly, he was very intelligent. Seemed too smart to do the kind of crap he did. He just shook his head and said he had no choice. He tried to move away from it(he was from Chicago), and he landed here, thinking he was safe. Someone recognized him. He was back in. If he refused, not only could he be hurt(or worse), they'd go after his pregnant girlfriend or baby when it was born. He was scared out of his mind. He didn't want it, knew it was wrong, but was just too scared.

We still question if the other gang members that attacked us were really going after him...first they were leading to his house, and when they saw us sitting there, they went after us. Take out the witnesses? We'll never know for sure.