As you might have read in another thread, my best mates sapphire Cosworth got broken into on Monday night, thankfully the retards couldn't start it, so left it dumped at the bottom of his road.
...
The copper who turned up (who was very helpful and actually interested!)got talking to us, and expressed his frustration that even in the unlikely event they could catch the scum involved (no witnesses,cameras or forensic evidence), if they did manage to put them infront of the courts, that they would be given a slap on the wrists, usually for the umpteenth time, and basically let off. Reading the local rag, the courts section makes for interesting & distressing reading, with examples of TWOC/ theft of a motor vehicle attracting fines of £250 and £35 costs!!!!
The problem being that supposedly prisons are full, so spaces are saved for the worst offenders.
But in my eyes, making crime/theft so unappealing in the first place would have a big impact on offences, and hitting criminals who burgle homes & businesses, and steal cars hard would send a real message out that if you steal, you do time.
IMHO, the very first time you get caught stealing, it should be a 1 year sentance, with no parole. Get caught again, 5 years, no parole. Third time 10 years, etc... If sentances are long enough to make the value of crime totally disproportional, it would cut out a lot of "minor" crimes like motor vehicle theft, burglary etc?