zlacker

Does anyone ever take justice into their own hands? Not recommending it, but my neighbor's car was stolen so I went out and found it for them that day. It was reported missing but I had a feeling it wasn't going to be actively looked for due to the severity of the crime.

>>always+(OP)
How exactly did you find the car?

>>always+(OP)
The penalties for taking the law into your own hands are generally highly asymmetric and in favor of the original perpetrator.

For example, if you forced the car thieves out of the car, or parked it in place by blocking the road, you might be looking at assault charges.

Similar arguments can be said for most other common crimes.

Consider noise ordinances (harassing / threatening your neighbor until they shut up), trespassers (Threats? Forcibly move them?), burglaries (rob them back?), domestic violence (victims that kill the assailant are often charged with premeditated murder), etc.

>>hedora+lj
Some good legal arguments on whether it is legal to steal something back or not... https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/15869

>>hedora+lj
Yeah definitely, I didn't want to get hurt over a car, I actually waited in my car until I saw them get into the car then I called the police. Otherwise they told me I can just take it back if no one is in it.

>>billme+ii
Honestly sheer luck. I drove around areas that generally have more crime looking for a blue crossover car. Around 1AM, when I was headed home, I spotted it on the left side of the road behind a camper, then I sat a good distance from it until the perpetrators started driving it then I called 911.

>>always+(OP)
When my bike got clipped I thought about walking around the neighborhood encampents to go looking for it, but someone stealing a bike is feeding an addiction to some type of beast. If I step between a mouse and its cheese, I'm liable to get bit and maybe even some bloodborne disease, all for a couple hundred dollar bike. Realized my loss and moved on.