Store “security”

[chartreuse]

I agree, gigag04. The third time someone is convicted of stealing a $1.00 pack of gum (I started to say a nickel pack but that reveals my age), it is a felony. Also if they are shoplifting ground beef (a part of livestock, but I bet no one ever taught you that one in the academy, right? ) it is a felony. But these are not normal cases to get into here, and it is very unlikely the secutiry guard would know of the previous convictions.

I did wonder whether it would be an automatic felony for stealing a saucepan, if it was made of aluminium or had a copper bottom, but ISTR the metal has to be in wire form?

[srothstein]

I agree, gigag04. The third time someone is convicted of stealing a $1.00 pack of gum (I started to say a nickel pack but that reveals my age), it is a felony. Also if they are shoplifting ground beef (a part of livestock, but I bet no one ever taught you that one in the academy, right? ) it is a felony. But these are not normal cases to get into here, and it is very unlikely the secutiry guard would know of the previous convictions.

I did wonder whether it would be an automatic felony for stealing a saucepan, if it was made of aluminium or had a copper bottom, but ISTR the metal has to be in wire form?

Correct, wire, even the 1.29 3 foot section sold at Wal-mart for fixing trailer lights, is a felony but it must be in wire form.

[chartreuse]

I agree, gigag04. The third time someone is convicted of stealing a $1.00 pack of gum (I started to say a nickel pack but that reveals my age), it is a felony. Also if they are shoplifting ground beef (a part of livestock, but I bet no one ever taught you that one in the academy, right? ) it is a felony. But these are not normal cases to get into here, and it is very unlikely the secutiry guard would know of the previous convictions.

I did wonder whether it would be an automatic felony for stealing a saucepan, if it was made of aluminium or had a copper bottom, but ISTR the metal has to be in wire form?

Correct, wire, even the 1.29 3 foot section sold at Wal-mart for fixing trailer lights, is a felony but it must be in wire form.

Do you know if anybody's ever tried making it stick on the basis of the power cord that comes with an electrical appliance? It's a stretch, but if you could point to a conviction for a 1.29 3 foot section from WW as your precedent...

Failing that, I can see some utility in the interview: "Those curling tongs you shoplifted have a power cord. That's made of wire. See this section of the TX Penal code? You're looking at a felony, son..."

[srothstein]

I agree, gigag04. The third time someone is convicted of stealing a $1.00 pack of gum (I started to say a nickel pack but that reveals my age), it is a felony. Also if they are shoplifting ground beef (a part of livestock, but I bet no one ever taught you that one in the academy, right? ) it is a felony. But these are not normal cases to get into here, and it is very unlikely the secutiry guard would know of the previous convictions.

I did wonder whether it would be an automatic felony for stealing a saucepan, if it was made of aluminium or had a copper bottom, but ISTR the metal has to be in wire form?

Correct, wire, even the 1.29 3 foot section sold at Wal-mart for fixing trailer lights, is a felony but it must be in wire form.

Do you know if anybody's ever tried making it stick on the basis of the power cord that comes with an electrical appliance? It's a stretch, but if you could point to a conviction for a 1.29 3 foot section from WW as your precedent...

Failing that, I can see some utility in the interview: "Those curling tongs you shoplifted have a power cord. That's made of wire. See this section of the TX Penal code? You're looking at a felony, son..."

I don't know if anyone has ever made any of these weird applications of the law actually stick in court. I haev always used them for the shock value in investigations. My experience is that most professional shoplifters know the limits on theft very well, but forget all of the speical cases. They will steal 49.99 worth and ask for a ticket, but forget that the third conviction is a felony. I had one who knew it was just theft and did not understand that it became a robbery when he knocked the clerk down during his escape. I have used the upgrade for multiple convictions and force many times, but I try to stay away from these funny interpretations since I know this is not what the law was intended for. But it is fun to see their faces when you tell the crook this.

[KD5NRH]

Failing that, I can see some utility in the interview: "Those curling tongs you shoplifted have a power cord. That's made of wire. See this section of the TX Penal code? You're looking at a felony, son..."

(F) the value of the property stolen is less than $20,000 and the property stolen is insulated or noninsulated wire or cable that consists of at least 50 percent:
(i) aluminum;
(ii) bronze; or
(iii) copper;

"Partially consists of" is probably stretching "is" a bit too much. I mean, that would be like charging someone with a felony for stealing from Taco Bell because one of their products vaguely resembles "cattle or any part thereof."

Now, if they had a detachable power cord, you might be able to charge a misdemeanor for the tongs themselves and a felony for the cord, since it is essentially only insulated wire and a couple of plugs. Whether it would hold up in court is another question, but it could make for an easy plea deal if the thief takes it seriously.

[gigag04]

I heart this thread.

[boomerang]

I heart this thread.

Now I know if someone ever steals my TV, I should make sure the report mentions the power cord too.

[KD5NRH]

I did wonder whether it would be an automatic felony for stealing a saucepan, if it was made of aluminium or had a copper bottom, but ISTR the metal has to be in wire form?

I guess you could think of a saucepan as a really short, heavy gauge wire with a hollow core.

Be ready for the judge to throw that one back at you though. Possibly, literally throw it back at you.

[chartreuse]

I did wonder whether it would be an automatic felony for stealing a saucepan, if it was made of aluminium or had a copper bottom, but ISTR the metal has to be in wire form?

I guess you could think of a saucepan as a really short, heavy gauge wire with a hollow core.

Be ready for the judge to throw that one back at you though. Possibly, literally throw it back at you.

[Astro99]

Astro99, I was just wondering, does the security in the parking lot carry weapons?

oh no they are basically worhless I don't even think they have flashlights, let alone a level 3 comissioned liscense. They are basically there for insurance purposes so if like a car jacking happenes they can't say we did not have the proper security in place. However the supervisers are comissioned but highly unlikely you will ever see them.

[bdickens]

"STOP! I have a Skillcraft and I'm not afraid to use it!"

[KD5NRH]

However the supervisers are comissioned but highly unlikely you will ever see them.

Probably not actually supervisors; very few sites mix commissioned and non on the contract. Those are probably patrol from the same company, and generally part of their route is to stop by all the static posts, make sure everybody is alive, and watch an area while the post guard takes lunch or potty breaks.

[Excaliber]

However the supervisers are comissioned but highly unlikely you will ever see them.

Probably not actually supervisors; very few sites mix commissioned and non on the contract. Those are probably patrol from the same company, and generally part of their route is to stop by all the static posts, make sure everybody is alive, and watch an area while the post guard takes lunch or potty breaks.

Astro99 may have meant the field supervisors who go from site to site checking performance and responding to urgent issues. Those folks usually are commissioned.