Mobile thieving

[Allan]

Isn't a prison sentence a bit of an over-reaction to nicking a mobile?

[incitatus]

No. Theft is theft....I'd probably prefer them to do lots and lots of really unpleasant community service, but punishment, yes, definitely. One of the reasons that leasing mobiles is so expensive is down to mobile theft.

[andy hughes]

The best way to reduce mobile phone theft is to make it a pointless exercise. The technology exists to render mobile handsets inoperable after theft. A simple computer code will disable a whistles-and-bells mobile into a useless lump of plastic, but mobile companies are reluctant to implement it because of the cost to them. If the government made its implentation a condition of their operating licences, the entire unpleasant phenomenon could be eradicated virtually overnight.

[incitatus]

I can see that the venerable Hughes' suggestion would cut crime, but my gut feeling is against it.....if only because I would forget the code. It's like having no penalty for murder, but enforcing the wearing of body armour...

[pisceschild]

It wasn't just about "nicking a mobile" though. In the case recently in the news, the guy who got 4 years, beat hell out of his victim. I saw the victim's mother being interviewed. She maintained that he'd said "take the mobile, just leave me alone" so in this particular case the phone wasn't the issue. However future theft of mobiles should in my opinion be treated the same as having your bag or purse stolen.I know mobiles are expensive but the principle is exactly the same.

[pixie_knows]

it's not just stealing an item, it's threatening someone on the streets because they have something you want and as the ages of mobile phone owners get younger and younger children are prime victims for this unacceptable crime. I think all thieves should be punished otherwise they will think its all right to take advantage of people like you who think that prison is a bit extreme