View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2007 > February > 22
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Tone down the daytime bling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Police departments have a lot of walk-in people. I noticed two women, one older than the other, standing near the front desk. The older woman had the look of fear on her, not like someone who was in line for a copy of a police report or permit.
She had just been robbed. She was putting her groceries in her car when she was approached by a man who demanded her ring—big ring—on her finger. She screamed, apparently very loudly. The man got into a car and left. The other woman was her daughter who was nearby, returning a shopping cart when she heard the scream. She was very visibly upset. Most people don’t see the after-effects of a traumatic event. The robbery victim was lucky. The robber left and nobody got hurt. The idiot never even got the ring. It was a big ring.
Here’s some good advice. Tone the jewelry down in public. Unless you’re going to a dress-up event, less is better. There are people who will foolishly try to rob you in broad daylight. This guy was a doper, looking for quick cash. Be smart out there citizens.
Yesterday’s e-mail count 87
Answered most of them. I’m trying to wind down. Detective Sandy is fired up about heading for Vegas. It will be a good break. No rest, but a good break.
Yesterday’s phone calls 14
I didn’t get to call everyone back. Among those I did return calls to involved:
- Dogs are driving me nuts barking every night.
- UGA professors have bugged my home. (Regular caller)
- When can I shoot someone breaking into my home? (Frequent question)
- Anything going on? (TV station-regular call)
- Anything going on? (Same station, short attention span apparently)
- The vet said the dog would be okay. (Detective Sandy talking about our stressed out neurotic Shitzu or Shih tzu if you want to be proper)
- “We had a robbery recently.” Were your robbed at gunpoint? “No, our home was broken into.” Oh, you were burglarized. “No, robbed. Someone robbed us.” By breaking into your home? “Yes, robbed by breaking into our home.” Well ma’am, you were burglarized, not robbed. Robbed is someone pulling a gun and pointing it at you. Burglarized is the illegal entry into your home. We’re kind of picky about that. “What does it matter? Robbed, burglarized? Who cares? Anyway, have you had many robberies?” You mean burglaries? “No robberies, you know, when they stick a gun to your head and demand the money. Hey listen, if they break into your house and then pull a gun on you, what is it?” Probably robbery and burglary, maybe home invasion. “When can you shoot them?”
- How come you guys write so many tickets? My friend’s cousin’s neighbor got one. He said the cop wrote him for 60 in a 35 MPH zone. He swore he was only going 36 in a 35. Man, that cop must have a quota. You guys have quotas? That’s not right man. My DUI lawyer said you guys have quotas. That is so not right.
Oh well. Today is the longest of days. We head out for Las Vegas around 10 p.m. Well-needed break in the action for me. My friend Dan, ultimate Styx fan, is ready for the Styx concert. He promises not to act giddy. I told him to be cool because he was going to meet the guys in the band. They’re just like us only creative, musically talented, younger looking, more intelligent, and with fabulous hair sporting no bald spots. Other than that…Dan laughed at the idea of childish fan worshiping. Then he said skipped off saying “Oh My Gawd—Oh My Gawd—Oh My Gawd!
