View Full Version : Child arrested for opening xmas pressie early


Cloudane
Dec 8, 2006, 12:00
I know it's sensational tabloid type bollocks, which is why I've posted it in this forum.

http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/749/749361p1.html

US, December 5, 2006 - In a shocking display of parenting prowess, a Rock Hill, S.C. woman reportedly called police and had them arrest her son after he was caught opening a Christmas present early. After receiving the call, police arrested the boy and charged him with petty larceny.

The Rock Hill Herald reported that the child's great-grandmother had warned him repeatedly about opening his present early, protestations that he apparently ignored. The present in question was a Game Boy Advance.

"He took it without permission. He wanted it. He just took it," the 63-year-old great-grandmother told the Herald.

When the boy's mother found the package lying unwrapped and empty under the tree, she immediately approached the child, who proceeded to lie to her. After threatening him with calling the police, the boy apparently returned the toy to his begrudging mother, who then called the police anyway. Although he was not jailed, the two officers responding to the call did charge him with petty larceny.

The boy's mother told the Herald that she had reached the end of her rope with the child, and no longer knew what else to do with him. She claimed that she has been struggling with his constant behavior problems for a while now, and could no longer handle his misconduct.

"I'm trying to get him some kind of help," the 27-year-old mother told the paper. "He's the type of kid who doesn't believe anything until it happens."

According to the boy's mother, he had already been caught shoplifting, stealing money from her, and punching a police officer. She told the Rock Hill Herald that she hopes this arrest will put a stop to his errant ways, because she is worried about his safety. The newspaper reported that the mother plans on having her son placed in the custody of the state Department of Juvenile Justice in Colombia at his court appearance.

Only in America.... (perhaps?)

jonny_boy27
Dec 8, 2006, 12:20
ffs...yeah only in america would the cops actually arrest the kid. wtf is petty larceny anyway?

Cloudane
Dec 8, 2006, 12:28
Wikipedia:

In the United States, larceny is a common law crime involving stealing. Under the common law, larceny is the trespassory taking and asportation of the (tangible) personal property of another with the intent to deprive him or her of it permanently. In English law, the common law offense was codified into the Larceny Act 1916. In turn, the terminology and substance was converted into theft by the Theft Act 1968.

Theft, in other words

dominoid
Dec 8, 2006, 12:37
surely theft is to permanently deprive someone of something so it's not theft as he returned the item. It's taking without consent. This is probably bollocks made up to sell a newspaper.

Cloudane
Dec 8, 2006, 12:51
I don't know... you can't steal from a shop, and then when caught say "here, have it back" - you'd still be done for theft.

Agreed that it's probably at least "sexed up" to sell a paper though.

wutangstan
Dec 8, 2006, 14:04
To be honest, as a parent myself, albeit to a well behaved 11 yr old girl, I can see the parents point of view here. Children nowadays it seems, are not very well behaved. Now I wasn't particularly brilliant in my teenage years, but, compared to kids in general today, I was ok.
If calling the police in is the only way to get that child to take note, then I appaud them. As for actually arresting him for theft, well, that's a different kettle of fish, but the point is, he probably has had a wake up call and may now reconsider his outlook on things. It works as a deterrent. IF you catch them at the right time. I had my wake up call before it was to late and I've been a good boy ever since.:pope: