reno - that's right! I am Catholic, by the way.
e57 - I think he wanted to show off the nifty tools. I don't think he's mental, just a little (a lot) dumb. He doesn't even know what the Kleins wire strippers did, or what the chassis punches were for. I don't think he was gonna sell them. I think it was more a bad prank than anything. He is pretty dumb, but generally a good person, so I'm about 85% sure this was his first crime (not counting underage drinking and stuff like that).
If he wasn't gonna turn himself in, I would have turned him in. I know people (although, they were teens, and not in his 30's like this guy) that did something stupid and went to jail, and it messed them up more. I really had to refrain from ripping this guy's head off. The electrician figured that having him do community service was better for the community than locking him up and spending taxpayer's money, especially because the theif turned himself and realized what a mistake he made (and I agree with the electrician). I definitely didn't wanna let him go scott free, but I do believe that in this individual situation, community service was the best option. After all, the electrician got his tools back, the theif learned a lesson, and our 10 city playgrounds have been cleaned up (including removing drug needles!). Most importantly, I was able to turn someone's life around... or at least give him a push in the right direction.
As far as shoplifters and people who steal from jobsites, they know what they're doing was wrong, and there is a lot less hope for them. The theif I told you about felt bad after I told him the part about stealing tools is taking away someone's living. Most theives know that, and they don't care. These people do need to be locked up, or on chain gangs. Like I said before, if my friend wouldn't have turned himself in and realized his "prank" went too far, then I'd want him to go to jail for a normal sentence.
I don't know where my patience for this guy comes from, maybe I can see some good in most people that others can't.
Anyways, I hope I don't create any controversy on this board because this guy got off easy. Hopefully I stopped a person who made one dumb decision from being a repeat offender, and stealing someone else's tools.
