Prolific Theif Jailed For His 342Nd Offence,

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2307588/David-Archer-Britains-prolific-thief-jailed-342nd-offence-spanning-48-years-raid-charity-shop.html

One's first reaction to this persistent thief is to say lock him up and throw away the key, but is that the answer?

Here we have a fellow human being who is on an institutionalised merry-go-round, he is discharged from prison with no funds or any accommodation, surely with the amount of money he has cost the taxpayer by repeatedly locking him up, wouldn't it be cheaper to find him a one bed flat and put him on a small amount of benefits?

Maybe with just this little amount of care and consideration, it may be all he wants to turn his life around?

[Zeuhl]

Very compassionate and tolerant of you aog

is Mr Archer an EDL supporter?

[joeluke]

Cheaper all round to keep him locked up permanently, the thieving toe-rag obviously likes it in there

[youngmafbog]

For some I would agree AOG. For this person no. It really is bottom of the pile to target charity shops for you criminal activity.

I would lock him up for 5 years at least.

Still, when Sharia law gets in, aided by the left leaning liberal chattering classes, he wont have any hands left to steal with very quickly.

[Old_Geezer]

It may be cheaper but it would send out the wrong message to others. Give him a free flat and suddenly there are many trying for the same handout.

Besides if he is in need then surely he is already eligible for housing & benefits isn't he ?

Sounds as if he needs to be cared for in a mental institution for the hopeless cases since nothing so far has worked to persuade him that this is not how one should behave.

[AlwaysConfused]

He has an addiction to stealing. Most shoplifters would get a buzz from getting away with it, he obviously gets his high from getting caught. He doesn't need prison, he needs psychological help.

[anotheoldgit]

This case was discussed on a late night radio phone-in, and taking into account the more sympathetic approach that was shown by those taking part in the phone-in, made me look at this case in the way that I have, but obviously from the reaction here, some ABers are not so sympathetic toward this man as the phone-in participants were.