What percentage of the public are thieves ?
What percentage of the public are thieves ?
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Discussion

J4CKO

Original Poster:

46,839 posts

230 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
My mum wants a new bench for the front of the house but she is concerned it would get nicked, so we are looking at ways to avoid someone carrying it off, its almost like its expected that it will go, fairly soon after putting it there if its not secured, £200 or more gone.

You cant leave a briefcase, laptop bag or bicycle unattended as pond to a penny it will get lifted. I left a bike outside a shop once and I watched it, saw this kid saunter over and was about to grab it when I knocked on the window just as he got to it and he st himself, not sure how he would have ridden off as it was too big for me and he was a foot shorter ?

Now, I know that personally I just couldn't bring myself to nick anything and I would guess most people arent thieves, but a fair proportion must be happy to take stuff if it can be easily taken.

Have you ever nicked anything ? would you now ? where do you draw the line ? Would you buy something stolen, even if you wouldn't take it yourself ?






N Dentressangle

3,453 posts

252 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
No, but many people in the UK would do.

Around 1/3 of men in the UK have a conviction:
https://www.unlock.org.uk/policy-issues/key-facts/

untakenname

5,357 posts

222 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
Bolt it into the ground, if on grass then put down some concrete first.

Having nice bikes it a shame I can't leave them unattended in urban areas even if locked up.

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
N Dentressangle said:
No, but many people in the UK would do.

Around 1/3 of men in the UK have a conviction:
https://www.unlock.org.uk/policy-issues/key-facts/
Not sure that’s accurate is it?

The 1/3 men having a conviction bit

ARHarh

4,892 posts

137 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
Depends where you live, I have had a bench in my front garden for 6 years. Its not secured in any way.

I would imagine everyone has stolen something, even if its just a pen from work. Not sure many would steal a bench though.

TwigtheWonderkid

49,088 posts

180 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
ARHarh said:


I would imagine everyone has stolen something, even if its just a pen from work.
Indeed, we're all thieves. The question is where do we draw the line on what is "acceptable" thievery.

kambites

71,483 posts

251 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
El stovey said:
Not sure that’s accurate is it?

The 1/3 men having a conviction bit
Sounds about right if it includes speeding.

As someone said above, most people have probably stolen something, be it a pencil from Screwfix or a handful of paper napkins from Costa.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 12th May 17:08

TheAngryDog

13,240 posts

239 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
Does oxygen count?

ro250

3,361 posts

87 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
N Dentressangle said:
No, but many people in the UK would do.

Around 1/3 of men in the UK have a conviction:
https://www.unlock.org.uk/policy-issues/key-facts/
Misleading to say the least. 1/3 of men BORN IN 1953 had a conviction.

15 per cent of people between the ages of 10 and 52 in England and Wales in 2006 were estimated to have had at least one conviction. Old data though.

Oakey

27,982 posts

246 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
I'm pretty sure they want you to take the pencils at Screwfix

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
El stovey said:
N Dentressangle said:
No, but many people in the UK would do.

Around 1/3 of men in the UK have a conviction:
https://www.unlock.org.uk/policy-issues/key-facts/
Not sure that’s accurate is it?

The 1/3 men having a conviction bit
Those figures in the survey include drunk drivers and other driving offences which are not theft related so removing them makes it 25 percent roughly.

Robbo 27

4,293 posts

129 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all


I have a hard wood bench outside my house, as does a couple of neighbours, no problems in 20 years.

Is there a bush or a drain pipe that she could put a chian to or a bike lock. You have to think that, I would hope, you couldnt just walk off with a bench,you would need a van.

You couldnt pick up my bench for that matter, too heavy.

Must admit though, there are a lot of thieves out there, if they can get away with something and not be found out then they will do it.

konark

1,238 posts

149 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
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TheAngryDog said:
Does oxygen count?
Only if its in a cylinder from BOC.

Spare tyre

12,564 posts

160 months

Tuesday 12th May 2020
quotequote all
You can get this anchors that you drill into the ground with a padlock then fix to the item with a bike lock. Do this twice and the item is not removalble as you have to unwind the anchorS


Seem them used on campsite for trailers and dawgs

Baldchap

9,627 posts

122 months

Wednesday 13th May 2020
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For a bench, just cement it in.

itsnotarace

4,685 posts

239 months

Wednesday 13th May 2020
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Yeah postcrete it in, just make sure you slope it away from the legs so that water doesn't pool and rot it away

hotchy

4,829 posts

156 months

Wednesday 13th May 2020
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Oakey said:
I'm pretty sure they want you to take the pencils at Screwfix
IKEA actively subconsciously tell you not to let go of your pencil.

nadger

1,413 posts

170 months

Wednesday 13th May 2020
quotequote all
Oakey said:
I'm pretty sure they want you to take the pencils at Screwfix
You keep telling yourself that , Ronnie Biggs! ;-)

Dan_1981

18,100 posts

229 months

Wednesday 13th May 2020
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Remember the old piracy adverts?

You wouldn't steal a car.... so why steal a movie?



I'm guilty of watching pirated movies, watching pay per view tv without paying etc. used to download from Napster, old copied games on the Amiga.


Never nicked a car though.... or a bench for that matter.


blingybongy

4,146 posts

176 months

Wednesday 13th May 2020
quotequote all
Dan_1981 said:
Remember the old piracy adverts?

You wouldn't steal a car.... I would if I could download it.