Mom calls the police on her shoplifting 6-year-old daughter

[**Bingo_Bob**]

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/17281504

So as "cute" as this story is, since when is it okay to rely on tax payer dollars to discipline your child? The police could have been responding to a real emergency. Even worse is that the NEWS makes a story out of it telling every parent out there that this is acceptable!

 

[WhosYerBob]

Here's another one of the same type, only calling about a husband not eating his meal...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34577354/ns/us_news-weird_news/

 

[mmack66]

Scared straight! The second one is plain ridiculous.

 

[Rughi]

The story doesn't discuss the circumstances.

Did the police come immediately, sirens a'blaring the wrong way down the street or did the child and mom cool their heels in the managers office until the police had free time to come down?

If the latter, then maybe it's a very efficient use of public resources, when a lesson could be taught in a controlled, low-risk atmosphere.

There are law enforcement professionals on this board; I wonder what their thoughts might be.

Roger

 

[ek.310]

there was a report on the news and a mom called the cops on her kid for not going to sleep n kept playing their video game system..lol..cops were pissed to show up!

 

[luvmysuper]

The mother deserves a boot to the head.
Ok, I understand that she wanted to teach the kid a lesson by calling the cops on her six year old daughter...
Wait a minute - I DON"T understand that part.
Isn't that what mom is there for? To teach the kids the right lessons?
This isn't some criminal mastermind at work here, it's a six year old kid who saw something she wanted and grabbed it.
Take it from there mom and tell her how what she did was wrong. Tell her how shoplifting costs innocent people escalating prices to cover losses. Smack that rear end.
Oh, and before anyone says anything to me about how traumatic a swat to the butt might have been, I'll just say that I think it would have been a damn sight less traumatic than a ride to the Police Station in the back of a Police Cruiser with a couple of Uniformed Strangers in the eyes and mind of a six year old.

Yep, boot to the head. That's my call.

 

[mmack66]

The mother deserves a boot to the head.
Ok, I understand that she wanted to teach the kid a lesson by calling the cops on her six year old daughter...
Wait a minute - I DON"T understand that part.
Isn't that what mom is there for? To teach the kids the right lessons?
This isn't some criminal mastermind at work here, it's a six year old kid who saw something she wanted and grabbed it.
Take it from there mom and tell her how what she did was wrong. Tell her how shoplifting costs innocent people escalating prices to cover losses. Smack that rear end.
Oh, and before anyone says anything to me about how traumatic a swat to the butt might have been, I'll just say that I think it would have been a damn sight less traumatic than a ride to the Police Station in the back of a Police Cruiser with a couple of Uniformed Strangers in the eyes and mind of a six year old.

Yep, boot to the head. That's my call.

But, it was a sin.

 

[azmark]

As a former police officer and wife that is one, I've had similar calls. We get the calls that their teenager doesn't want to turn the music down to the shop lifting kid. Honestly, I would take a call of a kid shoplifting anytime and I know the majority liked it for: 1. We can really lay it on them and scare them to death, 2. Better than taking the paper call of the old lady who wants a report taken because of kids skateboarding and 3. You know you have a greater chance of making a change in this kids life.

So yes there may be better things police could be doing but a parent that is making it a serious matter is important. You have to understand the first impression of law enforcement to a kid is paramount, more importantly where I worked in southern CA where it was heavily populated hispanic gangs.

I guess it can all be subjective. Some may say we have better things to do like find their lost dog or take a report on a stolen stereo. Some feel different. That being said, Im glad to have done for so many years but I sure don't miss it.

 

[langod]

Last year in my town, a Mom called the police because her teenage boy wouldn't get out of bed for school.

I tried that as a kid once. I was up and going after my Dad poured a pitcher of ice water on me.

 

[SRock]

The mother deserves a boot to the head.
Ok, I understand that she wanted to teach the kid a lesson by calling the cops on her six year old daughter...
Wait a minute - I DON"T understand that part.
Isn't that what mom is there for? To teach the kids the right lessons?
This isn't some criminal mastermind at work here, it's a six year old kid who saw something she wanted and grabbed it.
Take it from there mom and tell her how what she did was wrong. Tell her how shoplifting costs innocent people escalating prices to cover losses. Smack that rear end.
Oh, and before anyone says anything to me about how traumatic a swat to the butt might have been, I'll just say that I think it would have been a damn sight less traumatic than a ride to the Police Station in the back of a Police Cruiser with a couple of Uniformed Strangers in the eyes and mind of a six year old.

Yep, boot to the head. That's my call.

My thoughts on the subject, exactly. Oh and for the record, I've gotten this call before. I did my part and after the kid got a talking to, mom and/or dad were next.

 

[Groundhog]

I can understand the mother wanting to teach her daughter a lesson, but that's classic misuse of the 911 system. If she really wants us to help raise her child, just bring her by the precinct and we'll talk to her.

See below. Press "4".

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y8xWvluHAE[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Wendy]

As a former police officer and wife that is one, I've had similar calls. We get the calls that their teenager doesn't want to turn the music down to the shop lifting kid. Honestly, I would take a call of a kid shoplifting anytime and I know the majority liked it for: 1. We can really lay it on them and scare them to death, 2. Better than taking the paper call of the old lady who wants a report taken because of kids skateboarding and 3. You know you have a greater chance of making a change in this kids life.

So yes there may be better things police could be doing but a parent that is making it a serious matter is important. You have to understand the first impression of law enforcement to a kid is paramount, more importantly where I worked in southern CA where it was heavily populated hispanic gangs.

I guess it can all be subjective. Some may say we have better things to do like find their lost dog or take a report on a stolen stereo. Some feel different. That being said, Im glad to have done for so many years but I sure don't miss it.

Were you ever afraid of making the wrong impression to a child in a situation like this? My best friend of over 30 years is a police officer and her husband is a detective and she has told me about many wild calls you receive like this. I guess my only concern with a call like this involving a young child is that they may in the future be afraid of police officers instead of being secure around them. I can not stand people who tell their kids negative things about police because we really want our children to know that officers are a safe place no matter what the circumstances. When my husband and I won full custody of his child a few years ago he always would make comments if we drove past an officer and it took a while for me to twist his opinion. His mother had a few run ins to say the least. Somehow she repeatedly forgot that just because she was in her 40's you can drink legally, but please do not drive.
By the way hats off to you and your wife for serving your community it really takes a special person.

 

[azmark]

My wife came home the other night so mad because she got a call of a elderly lady saying there was a prowler outside her window and could see the person looking in. Cops get there and find nothing but the women is still on the phone with 911 and she tells the operator that the person is still there. So long story short, it was a huge inflatable snow globe on her front lawn that has a snowman inside that moves and the reflection was from the street lights.

She was mad because they packed it up for her in her in the box and put it away in her garage.

I can understand the mother wanting to teach her daughter a lesson, but that's classic misuse of the 911 system. If she really wants us to help raise her child, just bring her by the precinct and we'll talk to her.

See below. Press "4".

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y8xWvluHAE[/YOUTUBE]

 

[azmark]

I wasn't sticking a light on the kid but we had a few where you can see they were going down the wrong path. I too agree parents use the "the cops are going to get you if you don't behave" method of parenting rather than be a parent and tell them what cops do.

I use to get a lot of calls with kids and I always enjoyed them. I remember I had a call at a school where one of the kids got in a fight with a teacher and called him a racial slur. He knew he was in trouble over the fight but I could not leave the racial factor alone so I asked him why he called the teacher that and after hearing his excuse I explained to him that my wife was African American and I don't like hearing those words. I said it in an intense way but man he was terrified because he knew the teacher couldn't do anything to him besides discipline but he saw me six inches from his face

I was like a walking cartoon with some of the personalities I used. I was always able to get out of a jam or change the tone of a situation.

Were you ever afraid of making the wrong impression to a child in a situation like this? My best friend of over 30 years is a police officer and her husband is a detective and she has told me about many wild calls you receive like this. I guess my only concern with a call like this involving a young child is that they may in the future be afraid of police officers instead of being secure around them. I can not stand people who tell their kids negative things about police because we really want our children to know that officers are a safe place no matter what the circumstances. When my husband and I won full custody of his child a few years ago he always would make comments if we drove past an officer and it took a while for me to twist his opinion. His mother had a few run ins to say the least. Somehow she repeatedly forgot that just because she was in her 40's you can drink legally, but please do not drive.
By the way hats off to you and your wife for serving your community it really takes a special person.

 

[New2DEShaving_Montreal]

I love when people talk "taxpayer dollars". Here's something for you. If your tax payer dollars are not being used for stupidities like chasing Balloon Boys, people not eating their meals, or refrigerator making noises, then your tax payer dollars will be used for OTHER stupidities. You tax payer dollars are not meant to be SAVED for IMPORTANT jobs. The tax payer money is meant to be SPENT, as soon as possible, on ANYTHING. A good example is building roads and bridges, specially where I live. Anyone educated enough knows they can do it, and make it so well that it will last as long as the pyramids. But will they do it? No. They will make sure it needs repairs as many times as possible using Tax Payer money. This keeps money coming in. This is why simply complaining about our tax dollars isn't going to win any minds. And in this case, the police should do what makes sense. But do they always do that? Your answer.

 

[Fraser]

If I had shoplifted as a kid and be caught doing so I'd prefer the cops to pick me up. I think the problem is the child doesn't see her mother as an authority figure.

 

[azmark]

If my parents knew I shoplifted, I would welcome the police to take me to jail

 

[kwk285]

Personally I think this is great idea for many reasons.

First, I think the child was scared straight.

Two, Consider how much shoplifting costs you. Stores add a fair amount to the price of their products to pay for losses due to shoplifting.

 

[flatstick96]

I still remember VIVIDLY the one time in my life that I "shoplifted" something (though of course at the time I didn't know it was called "shoplifting").

I was a little kid, probably about 5 or so (I'm nearly 40 now). Back then the candy racks at the check out aisles at the grocery store were sort of an "A frame" design with a void in the middle. While mom was checking out, my little brother and I would climb into the middle of the "A frame" merchandiser as if it were a fort or something. One day we realized that from inside there, we could take candy from the back of each box of candy, and nobody outside could see us doing it - so we LOADED our pockets up.

As soon as we got home we bolted out of the car and headed around the back of the garage to enjoy our spoils - we dump everything out, and just as we're about to dive in, mom comes around the corner of the garage, looks at us, looks at our loot, and very calmly says:

"So, where did you boys get all that candy?"

---LONG PAUSE (as we stare sheepishly at the ground)---

"You couldn't have bought it, because you don't have any money."

We were cold busted, and we knew it; I'm expecting a beating, when suddenly mom says:

"Well, pick it all up, and let's go."

"Go where...?" (I'm thinking - but I know better than to ask).

Of course, she puts us in the car and drives back to the store.

as we pull up I'm thinking: "Big deal, so we have to return the candy - that's not so bad."

Then mom says: "OK, get out, go into the store, and ask for the manager. When he comes out, explain to him what you've done, apologize, and ask him how he'd like to punish you."

ME (slightly incredulous, and with more than a little trepidation): "Aren't you coming?"

MOM: "Nope. You want to steal, you deal with the consequences by yourself - now get moving."

As we made what seemed like an interminable walk back into the store, my mind was racing with all of the possible consequences; by the time I hit the front door I'd convinced myself I'd be in jail for a LOOOOOOOOONG time, and maybe never see my family again. At that moment, stealing seemed like about the stupidest thing a kid could do, and there was no place on earth I wanted less to be than in that store facing the manager.

He was pretty stern, and when the lecture was over I couldn't get out of that store fast enough, the whole time thanking my lucky stars that I'd somehow avoided the hoosegow.

 

[raisindot]

As a former police officer and wife that is one, I've had similar calls. We get the calls that their teenager doesn't want to turn the music down to the shop lifting kid. Honestly, I would take a call of a kid shoplifting anytime and I know the majority liked it for: 1. We can really lay it on them and scare them to death [stuff deleted] You know you have a greater chance of making a change in this kids life.

So yes there may be better things police could be doing but a parent that is making it a serious matter is important. You have to understand the first impression of law enforcement to a kid is paramount, more importantly where I worked in southern CA where it was heavily populated hispanic gangs.

I've been going back and forth on this one, but I think your comment puts me on yours (and the mom's) side. This kid would have totally forgotten her mom's lecture on morality, sin, etc. and punishment in a week and would probably have shoplifted again...and perhaps be caught by store security and arrested when the mom wasn't around.

But this kid will NEVER forget her trip to the police station. If that "scares the kid straight" I'm all for it. As the poster says, there are many worse things police are called in to do that aren't technically crimes.

Jeff in Boston