₦airaland Forum

How do we react to theft ?
For instant, a family member caught stealing and then playing the ‘I didn’t know’ card. That he/she didn’t know the item was for this, or the item was not in use blah blah blah… do you forgive and let him go, most likely continuing the said trick or you call for punishment ASAP.
Way back, I was in a technical conference and exhibition, and this fine Gentleman, walked up to my stand to demand what the company was all about. After having a chat with him, he was leaving to another exhibition stand when I realized that a simulated equipment was missing.
This was a small silver ware designed to look like the prototype. Cost a lot of money to design, and IT was missing. My instinct immediately went to this gentleman. So I approached him and asked to see his bag if he mistakenly picked up this tool.
And I was right, the tool was in his big bag. His explanation was that he thought it was a gift (Gifts were normally distributed in such exhibition) but I was furious, yet have to give him the benefit of doubt. But seriously inside of me, I was pissed.
After a while I heard of a CEO missing his suitcase, he came inside this meeting with a suitcase, and another person was in the meeting with same case, these suitcases where exchanged, and the one with lots of old news papers was left with the CEO while his with lots of important documents was taken. I could have sworn that it was this same man, and I found myself asking, what if I raised an alarm there and then, maybe this other persons suitcase will still be intact.

Anyway, long story short, how would you handle the situation?
PS. I just gave some example that may or not relate to personal experience, just drop you opinion on the issue so we learn from it.
This is not a feminist issue, i repeat, this is not a feminist issue so pls lets behave ourselves.
Thanks

Oya o, Nairaland Analyst, over to you

The Oyibo response: report to the police let him sort his story out with them.

The African response "Pity him, his explanation may be true"

The street response " Lynch him" lol.

Dont blame yourself dear, criminals are very tricky. Sadly they create lack of trust in others because now am sure you will be extra vigilant and not accept explanations should someone else make a mistake even an honest one. It wasnt your fault

If you attend an exhibition and indeed there are gifts offered,shouldn't those gifts be offered by the exhibitionists?Do people just help themselves with gifts?I think that guy should have been reprimanded right there.
If people need to take anything,I think they ought to always ask and not assume they can take it.They ought to be reprimanded or given appropriate punishments.

Chillisauce, this one wey you just wake up for morning dey think of "tiff" sef

Anyway, that guy must be a Nigerian in Obodo Oyinbo for the first time...

In Nigeria:

if the thief gets away with the loot, the owner/victim will be severely blamed for being careless.... Even if the theft was done by a trusted person people will ask.... "why u give am the money? Why you nor keep the thing yourself? Why you nor lock your door...... Instead of focusing on the thief.

If the thief is caught.... If the thief is male..... He's very wicked..... Make den beat am well well, flog am.... Arrest him..... Jail him....

If the thief is female...... She's just stup!d.... Na girl make u leave am.... She has learnt her lesson..... Make u warn am well well make she nor come hia again....... Thats all.

In naija o.... I dont know about other countries.

I know a lot of nairaland ladies will start "nagging" me.... I nor go take panadol for dem headache......!!...

^^ Have you resolved your "ish" yet?

What was the outcome?

^^ tomorro, if he nor recover the "ish".... Na SARS cell go be him next house.

EfemenaXY:
Chillisauce, this one wey you just wake up for morning dey think of "tiff" sef

Anyway, that guy must be a Nigerian in Obodo Oyinbo for the first time...

That was way back in naija. Something happened recently and it got me thinking.

You cant raise an alarm, afterall its just some item before same irate people set out for lynching. As Aisha said, leave am na, aunty you big pass this one etc.
But its the feeling i cant seem to get right. You cant call the cops because you will end up spending more than necessary.

In this situation, will it be simply leave it to God. God will Judge etc

^^ Surely there must be some sort of middle ground now...

aisha2:
The Oyibo response: report to the police let him sort his story out with them.

The African response "Pity him, his explanation may be true"

The street response " Lynch him" lol.

Dont blame yourself dear, criminals are very tricky. Sadly they create lack of trust in others because now am sure you [b]will be extra vigilant [/b]and not accept explanations should someone else make a mistake even an honest one. It wasnt your fault

My dear, Extra vigilant is an under statement.
So in your case, you will leave it for God?

EfemenaXY:
^^ Surely there must be some sort of middle ground now...

I'm looking for that middle ground. you na police you go call sharp sharp

thorpido:
If you attend an exhibition and indeed there are gifts offered,shouldn't those gifts be offered by the exhibitionists?Do people just help themselves with gifts?I think that guy should have been reprimanded right there.
If people need to take anything,I think they ought to always ask and not assume they can take it.They ought to be reprimanded or given appropriate punishments.

sometimes the gifts are placed on the table. But very small gifts like pen, sweets. The main ones are hidden.

At bolded, what kind of reprimand would you give.
In the case of the suitcase, if he was caught, he would have said that he thought it was his. These people are something else.

oweniwe:
In Nigeria:

if the thief gets away with the loot, the owner/victim will be severely blamed for being careless.... Even if the theft was done by a trusted person people will ask.... "why u give am the money? Why you nor keep the thing yourself? Why you nor lock your door...... Instead of focusing on the thief.

If the thief is caught.... If the thief is male..... He's very wicked..... Make den beat am well well, flog am.... Arrest him..... Jail him....

If the thief is female...... She's just stup!d.... Na girl make u leave am.... She has learnt her lesson..... Make u warn am well well make she nor come hia again....... Thats all.

In naija o.... I dont know about other countries.

I know a lot of nairaland ladies will start "nagging" me.... I nor go take panadol for dem headache......!!...

. RElax, no one is nagging you.

in the Time of Jesus, thieves were crucified. So jungle justice did not start today and I could remember when Pontius Pilate asked the people who should he free between Barnabas (A chronic criminal) and Jesus, the people shouted Barabbas. Really I'm a strong advocate of jungle justice because our criminal laws are very weak.

bennyrazz:
in the Time of Jesus, thieves were crucified. So jungle justice did not start today and I could remember when Pontius Pilate asked the people who should he free between Barnabas (A chronic criminal) and Jesus, the people shouted Barabbas. Really I'm a strong advocate of jungle justice because our criminal laws are very weak.

Only criminal would advocate for jungle justice. I hope you won't mind too much if you're wrongly accused and find a tyre around your neck. Jungle Justice doesn't ask questions. They act first, then ask questions later.

EfemenaXY:
Only criminal would advocate for jungle justice. I hope you won't mind too much if you're wrongly accused and find a tyre around your neck. Jungle Justice doesn't ask questions. They act first, then ask questions later.

only criminals would advocate for jungle justice? what are you insinuating? probably you/members of your family have not been a victim of men of the underworld or kidnappers or their likes that is why your heart is so soft to them

Chillisauce:
sometimes the gifts are placed on the table. But very small gifts like pen, sweets. The main ones are hidden.

At bolded, what kind of reprimand would you give.
In the case of the suitcase, if he was caught, he would have said that he thought it was his. These people are something else.

I would have spoken loud in such a way as to attract attention and people would have become involved.He would still stick with his story that he thought it was a gift but he would have been embarrassed no doubt.Some people would have taken note of him too and kept an eye on him.

bennyrazz:
only criminals would advocate for jungle justice? what are you insinuating? probably you/members of your family have not been a victim of men of the underworld or kidnappers or their likes that is why your heart is so soft to them

So because I don't condone jungle justice means I'm soft towards criminals?

I don't see your top government politicians supposedly in "respectable" positions being given jungle justice for siphoning billions out of the country. Or you think they do less damage than your average petty thief?

I think you should stop posting. Go sleep. You're taxing yourself too much on my behalf.

Chillisauce:
My dear, Extra vigilant is an under statement.
So in your case, you will leave it for God?

Nope, now I go and make a formal report at the station, as hard as it may seem it is always for the best. Luckily, whenever I move into a neighbourhood I go visit the DPO introduce myself, get rain coats for the traffic officers, and see ways I can support so I have some good relationship with the Police and dont necessarily percieve them as enemies.

EfemenaXY:
So because I don't condone jungle justice means I'm soft towards criminals?

I don't see your top government politicians supposedly in "respectable" positions being given jungle justice for siphoning billions out of the country. Or you think they do less damage than your average petty thief?

I think you should stop posting. Go sleep. You're taxing yourself too much on my behalf.

. you call someone that aims a gun at you a petty thief? smh you don't understand anything. If a gun have been shot near your ears before or you were stripped naked while they raped your daughters on top of you or they cut your fingers to show you that fingers are equal then you would understand the point of jungle justice

aisha2:
Nope, now I go and make a formal report at the station, as hard as it may seem it is always for the best. Luckily, whenever I move into a neighbourhood I go visit the DPO introduce myself, get rain coats for the traffic officers, and see ways I can support so I have some good relationship with the Police and dont necessarily percieve them as enemies.

That's a good one.