Is it OK to steal from a thief?

Indiana Frenchman

sounds to me like something is fishy with the person from whom the mower was "stolen" .. he should not hesitate to call police .. maybe the mower was not his afterall ... in either case ... you should allow him to or not pursue the issue

?? yaddajean ??

No don't steal the mower back, it is best to let the police decide the matter, but if your neighbor doesn't like confrontations then it is really out of your hands. There is nothing more that you can do. YOu already did the right thing by letting your neighbor know where it is, but it is up to him to do something about it. IT is not your battle really/.

The Cupcake Bunny

Talk to the neighbor first, no matter how "busy" he is.
Even if you won't call the police, tell him you will. Make sure he knows you have proof, but not what it is.

And, I think calling the police would be the best thing to do, whether you neighbor likes confrontations or not. Talk him into it if you have to, but do it.

hoodstar53

take it back

american_angel068

Well you have no hard evidence. How many red mowers are there in the world, and they all have scratches.
If your neighbor doesn't feel it's important enough to call the police himself, then why should you??

It's really not your bussiness. And in the same turn if you take the mower and the guy that has it can prove it and calls the police you are now in trouble.

If your neighbor is concerned I guess he should be a big boy and take care of his own problems.

Stay out of it!! read a good book, and mellow out

Mama~peapod

Two wrongs do not make a right.

Leave well alone, or you will be the one in jail.

Logic316

Retrieving stolen property is not stealing, but you better be CERTAIN. I don't think you would even be charged with trespassing, unless he tells you to leave and you refuse (or unless he has locked gates or there's a No Trespassing sign). Nevertheless, you best let the cops handle the dirty work. If you are willing to act as a witness to the facts, the cops can press charges regardless of whether the true owner has the balls to come forward and complain or not. Kudos to you getting involved, because next time the dirtbag might steal something out of YOUR yard.

I'm very fond of my Briggs & Stratton lawn mower myself (as well as all my power tools), and it's times like this when I wonder if the Moslem custom of cutting off a thief's hand might not be such a bad idea, but I digress....

Big Man

I think you should steal it back. But there is also a chance you will get caught. I would do it when all the thief's lights are off and maybe were alot of black. But yah you should take it back cause your not stealing you returning a lost item of your friends. Also you might want to keep an eye on the thief in case he steals some more stuff and bust him! =)

teresathegreat

Well, technically, yes, it is wrong to steal from a thief, even if you return the stolen property to the rightful owner. It may be ethically right to restore the property, but it is legally wrong to become a "vigilante" and enforce the law yourself.

What you should do is report the facts to the police - anonymously, if you want, but the neighbor doesn't have the right to prevent you from reporting a crime, even if he's too chicken to do it himself. Call the cops and explain the situation, and give them the names and addresses of both men. The police are there to enforce the law.

micro_chip_lover

well if it is already stolen and you are "stealing" it back from him to give to the real owner than that would be OK but i would try to confront him first by telling him he has a nice lawn mower and your friend has one just like it see what happens then tell him it was stolen, see what he says then if he doesn't say what you want to hear i would either tell the police or steal it your self b/c lawn mowers are expensive and he cant let him get away with it. but first make sure his lawn mower was stolen and he didn't just let him barrow it. you are better off telling the police. tell the person who stole it that you have evidence but don't tell him what it is he will find a way to cover it up!
good luck!

skdontplay2007

personally i would steal that ***** back, but you never know what ole boy will do. since possession is 90% he could call the cops on you, and you would get effed. you could just put a cherry bomb in his mailbox...

Heather B

Two wrongs don't make a right.......which I am sure you don't want to hear anymore so how about......

An eye for an eye......if it is his and your are 100% sure take it back!! You could call the cops for him.....but hey the crazy thief might come after that poor innocent guy.....there are a lot of sides to this.....I don't like confrontation either....I would definately at least try to talk him into speaking with the police.

spyder

Honestly, stealing is stealing no matter what. In your situation, I would go ahead and steal it back for your neighbor. If a problem occurs, just call the police and explain the situation.

jenniferjohnson2008

You don't know for sure that that's his mower. So butt out already.

2eighty8

Only your good neighbour can press charges. You can call the police all you like, but nothing will get resolved in the end.

Personally, I would've stolen the mower from your bad neighbour and give it back to your good neighbour without saying anything. That way, the bad neighbour also doesn't have a case, and your good neighbour would get his property back. Remember, what goes around, comes around.

MissUnderstood

Tell your friend that you have seen his mower and where it is. Encourage him to go to the police with this information and let him handle the rest. If he does not pursue it then it is not on your head, you did more than anyone else would have done.
Peace

Conservative Texan

Let him fight his own battle

SIDEBURNS

dude why are you worried about it?

Bluejay

YouTube Video Dude

Tell your neighbor that he has it and tell HIM to call the cops. Very funny story!!

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