I hope they are punished but not in China where the penalty for this is way disproportionate to the crime
really?
The maximum sentence for stealing goods in China varies, depending on the value of what has been alleged to be stolen. Stealing goods worth between 1,000 and 2,500 yuan ($150 to $380), for example, comes with a maximum sentence of six months but could result in merely a fine.
Anyone convicted of stealing goods for more than that amount, however, would face jail time. Someone convicted of stealing goods worth between 7,000 and 10,000 yuan ($1,050 to $1,510) would face between two and three years in jail under Chinese law.
Louis Vuitton men’s sunglasses cost $435 to $1,990, according to the company’s U.S. website.
and in california...
According to statistics from the California Department of Corrections, thousands of individuals are serving life sentences under California's three strikes law for nonviolent third strikes—in fact, 360 individuals in California are serving life sentences for shoplifting small amounts of merchandise. California is one of twenty-six states nationally with a three strikes law, but California's is the harshest in that the third strike need not be a serious or violent felony-any felony, even shoplifting, can be the basis for a life sentence.
https://www.americanbar.org/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/human_rights_vol31_2004/winter2004/irr_hr_winter04_shoplifting.html
2 to 3 years in jail for shop lifting is incredibly harsh. That is the point I was making. I think I read somewhere the value stolen woild be a 3 to 10 year sentence under Chinese law. That is just way to harsh. It doesn't excuse the offense bit of rather see an American level penalty
No sympathy for thieves. None.
Really? You think somebody who shoplifts deserves jail time? Whether it be China or the US, this is not a crime that should be treated very seriously. Armed robbery is one thing, but an 18 year old kid trying to snatch a pair of sunglasses is nothing.
Another member of CB has a quote has his signature by George W Bush (how times have changed where I can speak positively of Bush) where he says often we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions.
Humans are not perfect - we all make mistakes and this is incredibly minor in the grand scheme of things. As much as I dislike what the Ball family represents, I really hope this falls by the wayside sooner rather than later.
According to reports, they stole from 3 different stores. So it wasn't merely a random crime of opportunity, but instead speaks to the defendants' specific intent. That to me needs to be treated more harshly than the way you downplayed it... "18 year old kid trying to snatch a pair of sunglasses".
How harshly? I mean, these are kids that did something stupid all in the same basic time frame. It's not like they beat somebody with a baseball bat and stole their car.
Maybe I just have a different perspective - I purchase and rent condos in Florida. When I have an eviction, I am out at least two months rent (usually, three) plus the cost of the eviction. My loss on an eviction is in the thousands - it is terrible. And there is no real way to ever collect the money. Think about it, these people essentially 'steal' thousands of dollars from me and absolutely nothing happens to them.
So, no, I don't think anything should happen to LiAngelo and his buddies and I think everybody who is ready to lay the hammer down really needs to take a big chill pill. I didn't know we had so many perfect members of society on CB.
Your comparison is really apples to oranges. They don't steal anything from you and you simply have to adhere to the laws to have them evicted. As a landlord your rights are limited and even if renters damaged property your only recourse would be to sue them civilly. However, if "kids" would unlawfully enter your rented property and subsequently vandalized it wouldn't you feel differently about the punishment they're faced with? How about if the same group of "kids" committed the same act in 3 of your condos? Would you want them punished or just shrug and say "no big deal"?
Talk about apples to oranges. My condos aren't 'open for business'. The only people allowed in them are the tenants who rent from me. I have had several break-ins and have had to replace some sliding glass doors (more expensive than you would think) and that is entirely different. Still, even though I have never heard of any arrests from these break-ins, if a 'stupid kid' was the person who did it and it was his first offense (and he was unarmed), I would not want him to go to jail. In the case of these young men, it seems the businesses will actually collect back their merchandise - no real harm in the end.
And you may not see these people as stealing, but they sign a lease committing to paying a certain amount over an entire year. If somebody else had rented the unit instead of them, I would have received the money that I very much count on. Instead, I am unable to rent the unit as they are happily living in the unit rent free, and on top of that there are significant legal fees. And, you are right about damages - have you ever entered the unit of a tenant who has been evicted? It isn't pretty.
Like I said, perhaps I have just had a lot more experience with people screwing me and knowing how to let it go. Apparently you and others have not gained that experience and are hell-bent on prosecuting every single person who does anything remotely wrong. Just realize, you or somebody you love may be on the other side someday and you will surely be begging for a break at that point.