Crime Reports

[Kanewpadle]

For the longest time I never realized that not all crime is reported. Never thought about it.

Many years ago I witnessed a crime and later looked for it in the local news. It wasn't there. I wondered why. Then I realized that the news media couldn't possibly know of every crime that's committed and the police don't necessarily report all crime.

That concerned me. What could I do? Nothing except to maintain a high level of situational awareness and stay away from certain areas. Nothing changed.

Last Monday on the way home from work a coworker stopped at a convenience store. When he walked out of the store he was immediately assaulted by eight people. They beat him pretty good. Stole his wallet and left. Thankfully he had no serious injuries that required a trip to the hospital.

He called the police. It wasn't reported. He won't be stopping in that part of town anymore. He knew this area is known for its high crime rate.

Hard lesson learned. Too bad he wasn't armed. Which may or may not have helped.

 

[LVSteve]

If you think crime is under-reported where you live, try living in a tourist area, like Vegas.

 

[mckenney99]

When you say it wasn't reported, do you mean by the media or did the PD not take a report or not show up?

PD leaderships and city managers have for years "cooked the books" and not classified certain crimes for what they are because they want to lower the violent crime numbers that are reported to the FBI. Those numbers are public information and summaries are produced each year. (They don't want their city/PD reflected in a poor light.) Burglaries are reported as breaking & entering, felony assaults or attempted homicides are reported as simple assaults, crimes not solved within 24/48/72 hrs are downgraded and reclassified as a lower level crime.

 

[mod29]

...Last Monday on the way home from work a coworker stopped at a convenience store. When he walked out of the store he was immediately assaulted by eight people...He knew this area is known for its high crime rate...

Where did this take place? I think you and I are in the same general area, and I would like to know so I can make sure to avoid it.

 

[Pisgah]

If you're saying it's not reported in the news, that is because it is NOT news. News is stuff that doesn't happen every day. You say he knew it was a high-crime area, which hints that it IS reported, and yet he goes there anyway, unarmed.

That someone would do that is not news either.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Where did this take place? I think you and I are in the same general area, and I would like to know so I can make sure to avoid it.

Lakewood/south Tacoma

 

[Kanewpadle]

If you're saying it's not reported in the news, that is because it is NOT news. News is stuff that doesn't happen every day. You say he knew it was a high-crime area, which hints that it IS reported, and yet he goes there anyway, unarmed.

That someone would do that is not news either.

Whatever you say buddy. It's nice that you're so compassionate towards someone you never met. Someone that thought it would never happen to them. Someone that doesn't deserve it.

Must be nice to be perfect huh?

 

[Faulkner]

{snip} He called the police. It wasn't reported.{snip}

Just a clarification question . . . he called the police and the police did not make a report? Or a police report was made but it was not reported in the news?

 

[mod29]

Lakewood/south Tacoma

Thanks, I am rarely in that area, thankfully.

 

[DWalt]

Here, unless it's a serious felony, the police won't even show up to take a report.

 

[BC38]

Lakewood/south Tacoma

That whole town is like a 3rd world stink-hole (avoiding banned bad 4-letter words )
Used to be just Hill Top that was bad - working in that area is what first prompted me to get my CCW and buy a pistol - 35 years ago.
Now it is the whole stinkin' town from Rustin to Lakewood.
Sad.

 

[Tom S.]

The US has no championship title in this regard. A relative visiting Italy had her cell phone stolen and the police refused to take a report saying it would do no good. "Civilized" countries are taking less measures to stop or apprehend thieves. Whether it is because police are overwhelmed or because they have more important matters on their plate, I do not know, but it ticks me off.

 

[mistermills357]

If he had shot all of them, it would have made the news, and a report would have been filed. And the TV reporters would be pulling their hair, and having a fainting spell.

There are loads of crimes that are not reported, so it's always best to not trust your surroundings.

 

[johngalt]

I'm not suggesting that anyone should do anything illegal, and with cellphone cameras around everyplace this would be an especially bad idea.

Back in the day in Chicago, the advice I got was that if I was ever in a situation where I needed to defend myself, shut up and walk away. I suspect I'm not the only one who received that advice.

 

[Doug M.]

Washington has been very badly impacted by a citizen initiative (940) that was based on fabrications by the family of a very violent criminal who got killed by cops. The next year, the legislature went bananas passing laws to make criminals safer. These were likewise based on the same fabrications, along with the falsehoods about Eric Garner and George Floyd. There is a false folklore that cops kill a lot of people, and do so without cause. The reality is that compared to the number of violent assaults on cops, they kill about 5% of the offenders who should be.

As a result, there is a lot of de-policing. Terry stop and other critical enforcement actions are down. Drivers regular flee traffic stops. Car theft and other types of property crime are climbing. The murder rate in WA is at or near a record level.

Most of the I-5 corridor from Blaine to San Diego is unlivable. I refer to it as the Idiocrazy of the I-5 corridor. Doubt that nothing will fix it except the San Andreas fault. Barring a miracle, I will move from WA after I retire.

 

[armadillo]

Anywhere I ever lived the police do not report it as burglary or theft unless they have a suspect. That way they don't have to bother with a hopeless investigation and it doesn't go in the statistics.

They will give you an "incident report" so you can file an insurance claim.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Oh boy, where to start on this topic...(this will be long...I apologize for that)...

In the City of Baltimore, the State's Attorney (who will be out of office in January, thank heaven!) has made it a policy not to prosecute people who commit certain "minor" crimes. She has also stated openly that she doesn't want to see certain citizens jailed for breaking the law. As a direct result of this, Baltimore Police have stopped arresting people for those offenses, knowing that nothing is going to happen to them. Thus, the State's Attorney is able to boast that her policies have reduced crime. George Orwell would love this...

In Baltimore, there has been a problem for years with "Squeegee Kids" who accost motorists at intersections, clean their windshields whether the motorists want it or not, then demand payment and vandalize the cars of those who won't pay up. This shakedown is blatantly illegal, yet the city refuses to address it.

A month ago, a motorist in downtown Baltimore whose car was vandalized by one of these thugs, got out with a baseball bat to confront them...and was promptly shot to death by a fourteen year old. The suspect was eventually arrested, and, predictably, apologists have rallied around him, claiming that he was merely defending himself.

The pact that our various state and local governments make with us is that they will enforce the laws and maintain order, and that we therefore ought to trust them, and not take the law into our own hands. But...when citizens are victimized, and they know the government (the police and prosecutors) don't have their backs, they do exactly what that man with the baseball bat did: they decide to settle things there and then.

Folks in this area have been warning for years that somebody was going to get killed as a result of this squeegee kid situation...and even now that it's happened, the Mayor is arguing that no, he doesn't want the police to enforce the law, and the State's Attorney maintains she won't prosecute them.

We are witnessing an actual unravelling of civilized society in many parts of this country. From an academic standpoint, it's sort of interesting...but it's not much fun to live through...

Squeegee kid kills driver after altercation in Baltimore, police say | WCIV

 

[Old cop]

If the police failed to take a written report of a felony assault & robbery that's a firing offense & a separate crime, or at least it was in my department.

 

[Old cop]

If the police failed to take a written report of a felony assault & robbery that's a firing offense & a separate crime, or at least it was in my department.

 

[BigBoy99]

It is interesting that the media has defined a "mass shooting" involving 3 or more people. This is why there have been over 300 "mass shooting" since the first of the year. Only the shootings which will make the largest drama for the media are reported. Why was't there any reporting on a woman in church who shot a killed an person who had shot two other in church and was about to kill more? Good use of guns is ignored.

 

[LVSteve]

Another case of no media reporting. Last night there was a big police chase involving a helicopter and reports of shots fired. Checked out all the local news outlets to find nothing. Zilch, sweet FA.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Another case of no media reporting. Last night there was a big police chase involving a helicopter and reports of shots fired. Checked out all the local news outlets to find nothing. Zilch, sweet FA.

Many news operations seem to have either only a few people, or no one at all, working on weekend nights. Perhaps you'll see it reported in your local news on Monday?

Your post does raise an important point: "News" is whatever the various media outlets decide it is. If they choose not to report on it, you won't know it happened.

 

[Doug M.]

There is a huge difference between LE showing up to something and taking a report and the media reporting on that something. A lot of reports are taken, not because they are going to lead anywhere with regard to that incident, but because the data points can lead to a more productive investigation.

 

[smoothshooter]

Violent crime tends to rise to the highest level that a community is comfortable with.
Different areas off the country have different levels of tolerance for crime.
For example, residents in places like NYC and Chicago like to complain about how bad things are, but continue to elect public officials that have no intention of making things better.
Their tolerance is high.
The more the residents are willing to take their chances with being shot, raped, assaulted, robbed, kidnapped, etc., the less likely they are to elect politicians that will deal effectively with the problem.
Has your friend considered getting the heck outta there? Next time he or a family member may not be so lucky.
We all have Free Will.

I choose not to live in those kind of places, and never will.

 

[smoothshooter]

Whatever you say buddy. It's nice that you're so compassionate towards someone you never met. Someone that thought it would never happen to them. Someone that doesn't deserve it.

Must be nice to be perfect huh?

One does not have to be perfect to avoid being a victim.
Just pick a better place to live and work.

 

[mistermills357]

I have learned the hard way, that it is best to have a gun handy.
It is just that way. And all of the spinning of tales, about how safe a town is, are fanciful vanities.

Crooks aren't the only liars out there, the mayors and cops of the cities and towns, are too. I see to my own safety, and I have a good S&W that is pretty rugged and weather proof.

And I need to get a carry permit.

PS: there aren't any good or safe places left, IMO.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I have learned the hard way, that it is best to have a gun handy.
It is just that way. And all of the spinning of tales, about how safe a town is, are fanciful vanities.

Crooks aren't the only liars out there, the mayors and cops of the cities and towns, are too. I see to my own safety, and I have a good S&W that is pretty rugged and weather proof.

And I need to get a carry permit.

PS: there aren't any good or safe places left, IMO.

My younger brother is a now-retired Maryland State Trooper, who never goes anywhere without a gun. He got married almost 30 years ago, at a beautiful little church in a very rural area...and had his Model 60 in an ankle holster when he took his vows. When I remarked about that, his answer was that it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it...

 

[BigBoy99]

When I remarked about that, his answer was that it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it...

That is why the handgun is like a parachute!

 

[Skeet 028]

My younger brother is a now-retired Maryland State Trooper, who never goes anywhere without a gun. He got married almost 30 years ago, at a beautiful little church in a very rural area...and had his Model 60 in an ankle holster when he took his vows. When I remarked about that, his answer was that it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it...

And for about 70 yrs the Md State Police would not allow honest citizens to carry a handgun to protect themselves(at least unless you were well connected). Beemerguy53..with the new rules in Md are you going to get a carry license for Md? The way Maryland is you should get one while you can. How onerous is the process?? Surprisingly one of the only times I even had to show a firearm was leaving the Morris Mechanic Theater in Baltimore. Guy pulled a knife on a whole group of mostly older folks leaving the theater. He wanted money liquor cigarettes watches wallets They all thought I was a cop I think. I got out of town quick

 

[Beemerguy53]

And for about 70 yrs the Md State Police would not allow honest citizens to carry a handgun to protect themselves(at least unless you were well connected). Beemerguy53..with the new rules in Md are you going to get a carry license for Md? The way Maryland is you should get one while you can. How onerous is the process?? Surprisingly one of the only times I even had to show a firearm was leaving the Morris Mechanic Theater in Baltimore. Guy pulled a knife on a whole group of mostly older folks leaving the theater. He wanted money liquor cigarettes watches wallets They all thought I was a cop I think. I got out of town quick

To be fair...it wasn't the Maryland State Police who were keeping folks from getting carry permits; it was our Governors and the members of our General Assembly who refused to drop the "good and substantial reason" language from the permit process.

The recent SCOTUS decision has resulted in a deluge of applications for carry permits here. There is a training requirement, which includes both classroom and range time, as well as fingerprinting and a background check, and the total cost can be as much as $400 or more.

I live about 45 minutes northeast of Baltimore, in a small town where violent crime is extremely rare. I go into Baltimore occasionally, only to visit a couple of favorite delis. I do that only during the day, and I plan my route carefully. I don't feel any urgency to get a carry permit, but yes, I plan to do so.

You were very fortunate in your encounter at the Morris Mechanic Theatre (after being inactive for 10 years, it was torn down in 2014, btw) and you were wise to vamoose: carrying a gun illegally will get you arrested for sure. I'm glad things worked out for you.