WA Police are placing e-scooters outside shopping centres for people to steal, in a "proactive" operation that one human rights advocate says is inducing disadvantaged people to commit crime.
You’re essentially saying that it is entirely reasonable for an escooter left outside the shops to be stolen. I disagree with that take. People should be able to park their bike/scooter/whatever, duck inside for a few essentials and expect their ride to still be out the front of the shops when they come out. That you think they can’t speak poorly of your attitude to people in your community.
For what it’s worth, I agree with you that the risk of my bike being stolen outweighs the benefits of me taking it to the shops. So I suppose I’m in the same boat as you in a way. But cases like this may make opportunistic thieves reconsider that theft. Which I can only see as a good thing. I always feel guilty when I take the car for a small shop. I live close enough that the bike would be quicker and easier than driving if I could trust it not to get stolen.
The dude committed a crime. The fact that the police set the scenario up is completely beside that simple point. That’s a decision entirely in his own hands and at some point, a grown adult needs to take responsibility for their actions.
No, it is of course a shitty thing to do to steal a scooter. What I am saying is that this is an unreasonable way for police to behave. See my other comment in this thread.
With regards to this being a deterrent to other thieves, how? The police didn’t let anyone know they were doing it and didn’t let anyone know after the fact, the only reason anyone knows about it is that an investigative reporter dug it up.
You’re essentially saying that it is entirely reasonable for an escooter left outside the shops to be stolen. I disagree with that take. People should be able to park their bike/scooter/whatever, duck inside for a few essentials and expect their ride to still be out the front of the shops when they come out. That you think they can’t speak poorly of your attitude to people in your community.
For what it’s worth, I agree with you that the risk of my bike being stolen outweighs the benefits of me taking it to the shops. So I suppose I’m in the same boat as you in a way. But cases like this may make opportunistic thieves reconsider that theft. Which I can only see as a good thing. I always feel guilty when I take the car for a small shop. I live close enough that the bike would be quicker and easier than driving if I could trust it not to get stolen.
The dude committed a crime. The fact that the police set the scenario up is completely beside that simple point. That’s a decision entirely in his own hands and at some point, a grown adult needs to take responsibility for their actions.
No, it is of course a shitty thing to do to steal a scooter. What I am saying is that this is an unreasonable way for police to behave. See my other comment in this thread.
With regards to this being a deterrent to other thieves, how? The police didn’t let anyone know they were doing it and didn’t let anyone know after the fact, the only reason anyone knows about it is that an investigative reporter dug it up.