Background information: I work as a detective in crimes against property, that's robbery, burglaries and fraud mostly.
Before you read this realize that the only reason I can talk about it is that this case is completely closed. The investigation was over in march. I was also not involved in this, this happened to some people on the shift opposite me.
So this kid, about 14 years old, we'll call him junior, called 911 emergency to report his XboX360, all his games for it, all his PC games, and his Pen&Paper RPG books stolen.
After going to the house. Seeing no entry points, anything else being even remotely rifled thru, despite the fact the kid's room was on the second story of a house down a long hallway and more importantly the BURGLAR ALARM didn't go off... the two investigators, we'll call them Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone... decided to ask questions of the residents separately.
Mr. Wood took the boys parents into a room and they immediately said "don't give our son a false report charge! We threw all that devil stuff away!"
They told Mr. Wood that they took all of Junior's things while he was at a friends house. Mom & Dad then left the house so they wouldn't be home when Junior got back. Throwing all of Junior's cherished possessions in a dumpster to save his soul.
Mr. Wood informed mom and dad that doing that, despite owning the house and the kid being a minor, was still technically speaking; illegal and most definitely immoral.
Meanwhile, Ms. Stone completely figures the situation out while talking to Junior from his description of when he got home:
Junior not being a particularly bright child, for he did not think about the fact he had to disarm the burglar alarm and unlock the door before getting into the house... instantly thought his stuff was stolen by and I quote "a ***** junkie" (keep in mind this is a gated community where most of the houses are on 3/4-1 1/2 acre lots) He also asked Ms. Stone lots of questions about her gun.
Mr. Wood told Mom & Dad that he and Ms. Stone were going to bring junior his stuff back. Mom & Dad got upset saying 'why can't you play along?!' "You can't interfere with our parenting! It's illegal!"
"I'm not about to have a kid say 'police are useless' for the rest of his life because his parents can't cowboy up! Jesus would be ashamed!" Were Ms. Stone's exact words. She then went on to inform them of her part-time job: Youth Minister. This caused sheepish looks in Mom & Dad. Ms. Stone went on to say that she is going to go get the items but she will not tell Junior WHO took them, but the parents should fess up, and if they do it again we (the police) will not be so forgiving of everyone involved.
Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone called a nearby patrolman on the radio to tell him to check a specific dumpster outside of a nearby 'Family Video.' The items, except the xbox itself, were in pretty good shape. So Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone went and while wearing very nice suits pulled and cataloged all the items.
After giving Junior his XboX back he set it up as final notes were being taken. It RROD'd. (Mr. Wood actually put "RROD'd or 'red ring of death" in his report) Junior was very upset then chose to get angry at Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone for 'not doing their jobs.' The parents looked pleased that the XboX was not functional yet verbally reprimanded junior for being so unthankful. Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone felt defeated. Ms. Wood reminded the parents to 'keep better security around the house' in a knowing tone. The two detectives left defeated and once again, hating 'rich people'
You can't please everyone.
edit: This all took about 3 hours. So whos the bigger jerks? Mom & Dad or Junior? I still can't decide.
edit edit: Changed the title because so many people were fixated on the title. Missing the point entirely.
Before you read this realize that the only reason I can talk about it is that this case is completely closed. The investigation was over in march. I was also not involved in this, this happened to some people on the shift opposite me.
So this kid, about 14 years old, we'll call him junior, called 911 emergency to report his XboX360, all his games for it, all his PC games, and his Pen&Paper RPG books stolen.
After going to the house. Seeing no entry points, anything else being even remotely rifled thru, despite the fact the kid's room was on the second story of a house down a long hallway and more importantly the BURGLAR ALARM didn't go off... the two investigators, we'll call them Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone... decided to ask questions of the residents separately.
Mr. Wood took the boys parents into a room and they immediately said "don't give our son a false report charge! We threw all that devil stuff away!"
They told Mr. Wood that they took all of Junior's things while he was at a friends house. Mom & Dad then left the house so they wouldn't be home when Junior got back. Throwing all of Junior's cherished possessions in a dumpster to save his soul.
Mr. Wood informed mom and dad that doing that, despite owning the house and the kid being a minor, was still technically speaking; illegal and most definitely immoral.
Meanwhile, Ms. Stone completely figures the situation out while talking to Junior from his description of when he got home:
Junior not being a particularly bright child, for he did not think about the fact he had to disarm the burglar alarm and unlock the door before getting into the house... instantly thought his stuff was stolen by and I quote "a ***** junkie" (keep in mind this is a gated community where most of the houses are on 3/4-1 1/2 acre lots) He also asked Ms. Stone lots of questions about her gun.
Mr. Wood told Mom & Dad that he and Ms. Stone were going to bring junior his stuff back. Mom & Dad got upset saying 'why can't you play along?!' "You can't interfere with our parenting! It's illegal!"
"I'm not about to have a kid say 'police are useless' for the rest of his life because his parents can't cowboy up! Jesus would be ashamed!" Were Ms. Stone's exact words. She then went on to inform them of her part-time job: Youth Minister. This caused sheepish looks in Mom & Dad. Ms. Stone went on to say that she is going to go get the items but she will not tell Junior WHO took them, but the parents should fess up, and if they do it again we (the police) will not be so forgiving of everyone involved.
Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone called a nearby patrolman on the radio to tell him to check a specific dumpster outside of a nearby 'Family Video.' The items, except the xbox itself, were in pretty good shape. So Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone went and while wearing very nice suits pulled and cataloged all the items.
After giving Junior his XboX back he set it up as final notes were being taken. It RROD'd. (Mr. Wood actually put "RROD'd or 'red ring of death" in his report) Junior was very upset then chose to get angry at Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone for 'not doing their jobs.' The parents looked pleased that the XboX was not functional yet verbally reprimanded junior for being so unthankful. Mr. Wood and Ms. Stone felt defeated. Ms. Wood reminded the parents to 'keep better security around the house' in a knowing tone. The two detectives left defeated and once again, hating 'rich people'
You can't please everyone.
edit: This all took about 3 hours. So whos the bigger jerks? Mom & Dad or Junior? I still can't decide.
edit edit: Changed the title because so many people were fixated on the title. Missing the point entirely.
