If you follow the news and/or keep up with trending YouTube videos, you know what my title refers to. If you don't, go google 'Charles Ramsey interview' and then come back. The Cleveland police have been accused of lackadaisical attitudes in the past when it comes to rape, domestic violence, etc. Now we have a handful of people coming forward to say that they called the cops about the accused kidnapper/rapist over the years and their calls were ignored. Calls about naked women in his backyard, chained together. Not sure how true these reports are, but they have certainly become fodder for jokes about Cleveland vs its Suburbs. Jokes about how that wouldn't have happened in (fill in the blank town) because a male can't even walk down the street shirtless without getting stopped by the cops there. And they've got a point.
The long-running joke in our community is that it takes the entire police force to pull over a speeder. I've seen it myself. It's nice to live in a low crime area, but seriously, is it necessary to put out an APB when someone drives through town without a front plate?
I was at the local drugstore last week, buying two gallons of milk. As I'm arriving at the checkout counter, a cop comes storming in, speaking harshly to the poor 60-something cashier, "They are robbing you blind!!!" He then proceeds to fire a bunch of questions at her, including "Did he look like someone who could pay with a $100 bill??" She told him, "Sir, we got all sorts of people at this store." Meanwhile, I'm wondering if this is an emergency or does he not see that a customer who is actually TRYING to pay is standing right there holding two gallons of milk?? This cop was just plain rude. After a lot of back and forth, she finally told the cop she would be with him after she rang me up. I exited the store and noticed a swarm of patrol cars in the parking lot, presumably holding a suspect in one of the cars while the four other cars watched.........
From what I pieced together, the perp had dug a receipt (for multiple items, paid for with a $100 bill) out of the trash can just outside the store, grabbed a bottle of Axe bodywash, and proceeded to return it using the receipt to receive $6. Yes, you read that right........all this commotion for a $6 bottle of Axe. They really are robbing us blind here in the burbs! And from the looks of a lot of kids in this community, he would probably have been better off with the body wash than the $6.
Let's just say it's a 'dead giveaway' that cops are a little bored here, for which I am truly grateful.
Yes, I read about Charles Ramsey and also saw a video that was made on You Tube on another blogger's blog last week.
ReplyDelete"Yes, you read that right........all this commotion for a $6 bottle of Axe."
OMG...you're kidding me?!?!?
Here in Philly, the crime (stealing) rate is so out of hand and getting worse every year. I've seen customers grab 5 fragrance gift sets off the counter (worth $75.00-$85.00) and the security in our store does NOTHING about it.
UGH!
What the heck? What's up with your store security? Back in the day, they used to check all of our purses if we worked the night shift. It seemed dumb because you could have just as easily stolen something if you worked day shift and left at 5:30, but they only checked you when you left after 10 pm! Weird!
DeleteFirst, the idea that someone would or would not "look like someone who could pay with 100 dollar bill" is pretty offensive.
ReplyDeleteI live in a little town where you often see an abundance of cops called out for a relatively minor thing. Still, the night I thought I heard a sond in my basement and they sent two cars out to check it for me, I was appreciative.
I don't watch the news at all so I heard about the Amanda Berry thing for the first time today, from a patient. Crazy. ""Bro, I knew something was wrong when a little pretty white girl ran into a black man’s arms, something is wrong here, dead giveaway. Dead give away!" just cracked me up.
I know! I wish I could have seen the perp. I'm guessing it was a kid because there are always teens hanging around that area. But regardless, very offensive!
DeleteWasn't that hilarious? At first, I was surprised it wasn't edited, but then realized it went live the first time, so too late. You have to watch the original interview and then the Anderson Cooper interview. Then watch the auto tune Dead Giveaway song. It's rather catchy!
Funny stuff, yet I'd rather have over-active than under-active any day. Now if we could just get some smarter judges and juries .....
ReplyDeleteHow much you suppose recovery of that $6 cost? But then again, today $6 tomorrow a bank eh? It usually starts small.
Part of the weird thing was that the cop seemed to be partially blaming the clerk. Um, the lady probably makes minimum wage and is the only person up front. She can't be watching what happens in all the aisles. Please.
DeleteWell, if you blame the clerk even partially, then you can feel better about it, right? Sorta like "she shouldn't dress like that, she was asking for IT"... grrrr. Sorry, but especially from a cop, that's just plain wrong, no matter how "partially" it may have been.
ReplyDeleteThe exaggerated reaction by the cop is what got me. That store is not being robbed blind. I've never seen anything in the local paper about theft there, while I've read about plenty of petty thefts at the local grocery. Ridiculous!
DeleteI should have interrupted the cop and asked if I looked like I could pay with a $100 bill!
Yikes, it sounds like these guys have been watching too many cop shows.
ReplyDeleteI used to write up receipt scan stories when I was a reporter in PA and even though it was a small town, the cops there didn't get so excited. But bored cops are better than busy cops.
Yes, I'm glad they are bored, except when I pass their speed traps.
Deletelordy, that does seem like a bit of overkill.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of overkill in this commnity, not just with cops.
DeleteSorry, that whole triple abduction thing just reminded me a little too much of 1F and her asshole, not all THAT long ago. No, he didn't keep her chained up, and she was free to leave (and did, multiple times). But the threats and mind games are all-too-familiar. . .
ReplyDeleteYer local cops remind me of the campus cops over at Mega-State U just down the road, one of whom pulled me over once because the red tail-light-repair tape on my car was 'the wrong shade of red'. Pimply-faced nitwit. . .
Barney Fife lives!
I remember having a strong dislike for our kangaroo kop force in college. Sorry the story brought back some bad memories.
DeleteWow. Seems to me that they could cut down on their police force a bit in your town. ;) And yes, that really is something to be grateful for.
ReplyDeleteAlways on duty, I tell ya!
DeleteDefinitely a bit too much drama from the cop at the store.
ReplyDeleteGlad your town is not a high crime area though.
I'm in a fairly small town and the police presence is evident, but it seems necessary. Probably more for traffic stops, theft/burglary and domestic issues. And some of them just like Wawa coffee so I see them in there sometimes. ;)
Wawa coffee? Sounds interesting!
Deletenot saying it is ok, but someone who goes to that length trying to scam $6 probably could do with some sympathy - i truly hope the cops sent him on his way with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing it was a juvenile because $6 isn't going to get an adult very far.
DeleteAre cashiers seriously expected to evaluate every customer as to their financial status, their possible criminal intent, the genuineness of their receipt etc etc? Firstly, half the customers would never get served. Secondly, their conclusion might be totally wrong. Thirdly, it's not their job to prevent crime. Yep, heavy-handed cops with nothing better to do.
ReplyDeleteI was definitely annoyed just standing there listening. I wish I would have stood up for the clerk.
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