Discussion»Questions»Legal» COVID19: how far are we from the first criminal taking advantage of the fact that wearing a face mask in public is now the norm?
AAAAhhhhh! Please don't put that thought any further than here. Those who are dumb and steal may not have thought of such a thing. I'm sending the thought: NONE! AND THEY WON'T!!
Oh, please don't do that. You and your thoughts are wayy to important. So are Randy Ds. Incidentally, I posted a song for you under Jaimie's question. Please take a peek. It should be the last but most important song I contributed to the group. Big Winks and Smiles and Happy and Healthy Thoughts!!
And, related to that, I was thinking -- a criminal may commit a crime. And, if apprehended, the police may ask, "Where were you on the night of . . . ?"
"I was at home."
"Can anyone verify that?"
"No, I was alone and social distancing."
Perfect alibis -- "I was alone" - - are for the taking. :)
From the internet: The Criminal Law Deskbook of Criminal Procedure states: "Alibi is different from all of the other defenses; it is based upon the premise that the defendant is truly innocent." In Latin, alibī means "somewhere else."
An alibi is really another form of saying, "I didn't commit that crime" and the only two choices in an interview is to deny you did anything you are accused of (which is either the truth or a lie) or simply confess the nature and extent of your involvement in the crime.
If you provide an alibi, the police will attempt to verify it--which would help them by eliminating you from the list of suspects so they know they must keep looking; if they cannot---such as in your example---they will simply concentrate on obtaining sufficient evidence to convict you of what they charge you with.
An unverifiable alibi is no particular help to you.
It's already happening. Bank robberies, muggings, burgelies .... the list grows day by day. The law is useless as it can't/won't lock them up, and these low lifes know this.
Call me an optimist, but I'd like to think that there are less crimes occurring. All the banks are shut, all the jewelers are shut and there are few people on the streets.. and a fair few Mr Policemen on the streets partolling.. So I'd think, mask or not they'd still be caught?
Thank you for your perspective. I’m not referring to the amount of crimes that are being committed, because if and when a crime is committed, being a victim is not alleviated by how many others are or are not being victimized.
Not as many people are out and about, sure, but those who are could be accosted at any time, and those who are inside could become victims of home-invasion incidents.
It’s true that many businesses are closed, but crime occurs at closed businesses and closed residences all the time Also, the criminals or potential criminals know just as you do that there are fewer police officers on patrol, which may serve to embolden them even further.
Merlin 