Man Arrested for Stealing 42 Cents

Someone's tax dollars hard at work:

Naples police report this morning that a Bonita Springs man faces petty theft charges for allegedly stealing 42 cents from a fountain Monday at the Coastland Center mall on U.S. 41.

What can I asy?

Comments

[Kevin]

Maybe he needed to buy a stamp?

[WiseMoneyMatters]

Wow... Just wow.

I wonder where the legalities of this lies anyways. Is money in the fountain considered property of the mall? If I drop my change on the floor, does it become property of the mall? If I accidentally drop money in the fountain, is it theft to get it back?

And... it's $.42!

[Eric]

A thief is a thief.

[D]

Now, a pay phone (if you can find one) costs $.50 per call, so after scooping up his 'bounty,' the call to the getaway driver nets him a loss of 8 cents. That just won't do.

[guinness416]

Kevin - very funny! Sounds like it was the MENSA-member working as a security guard who made that decision to call the cops in the first place.

[Trent D.]

Theft is theft, as Eric said. Would you keep an employee who stole just a dollar from the cash register?

If someone will steal a little, they'll steal a lot, given the chance.

[sahm]

That would get you about 1/10 gallon of gas. He must have run out of gas less than two miles from home...

[sahm]

That would get you about 1/10 gallon of gas. He must have run out of gas less than two miles from home...

[MonkeyMonk]

Theft may be theft but arresting someone for stealing 42 cents is ridiculous.

[Steve R]

I wonder if people will think a theft is theft when they realize the tax payers money used to prosecute this guy. A complete farce, it is just going to get thrown out anyway. (after it cost taxpayers 100 grand)
If someone needs to steal 42 cents maybe they are better off in jail. A roof over your head, clean clothes and 3 meals a day alot more than 42 cents buys you.

[Shanae]

I cannot believe they would arrest a man for stealing 42 cents. Yes, theft is theft, and a wrong is wrong, but is it cost effective to arrest a man for stealing such a small amount of money? Unless it will only cost 42 cents to try this man, he should be left alone. And the officers who arrested him should be suspended because it is obvious that they have no interest in doing REAL police work.