Brothers accused in dragging of officer

Caught stealing copper spouting from a church, a man dragged a Hellertown police officer with his car in a frantic attempt to flee, police said Tuesday.

[dying allentown]

With all the thefts in the area you would think there would be pressure on the junk dealers.

....And I guess it would be too much to ask, to cuff these idiots on the OUTSIDE of the car for their trip to rehab. See how fast THEY can run attached to a moving vehicle

[Pachacutec]

"dying allentown," I have to agree with you. This type of thief is even taking the copper vases and markers in cemetaries; they took my Mom's as well as many others in the cemetery where she's buried. Now, if someone shows up at a junk dealer, metal buyer, wherever, with a ton of vases/markers, the buyer isn't going to question,'where did you get all of this?' Yeah, right, you just KNOW they're in on the thefts, as well, at least to the point of knowingly buying stolen merchandise.


At any rate, re. this particular crime; I can see where the defense will be going - two poor, homeless lads who have been forced to steal copper to survive. More than likely they'll say that they came from broken homes, that they didn't get bikes when they were 10, and so on. At which time we'll see their families on the 6:00 news, saying how they're really SUCH good boys, took Granny to church on Sunday and, anyhow, if they ARE thieves and on drugs, it's all the fault of society and the police, as they're always picking on those good boys, and blah, blah...

[damn fools]

Simple solution, but not for Allentown cause it would be too hard:

Give the junk dealers a quality digital camera or two. Have them photograph the recycled materials, especially the suspicious stuff, with the recycler standing next to it. Holding the paperwork they already fill out. Have a calendar and clock in the photo's background.

After a while, you get a collection of photos of your prime suspects. With names and addresses dates and times.

If you give the dealers the cameras and help them out, they would probably be happy to do it. No one gains from thieves.

[StaberDearth]

damn fools wrote:

Simple solution, but not for Allentown cause it would be too hard:
Give the junk dealers a quality digital camera or two. Have them photograph the recycled materials, especially the suspicious stuff, with the recycler standing next to it. Holding the paperwork they already fill out. Have a calendar and clock in the photo's background.
After a while, you get a collection of photos of your prime suspects. With names and addresses dates and times.
If you give the dealers the cameras and help them out, they would probably be happy to do it. No one gains from thieves.

This idea makes far too much sense for a public servant to come up with, much less implement. But why give the dealers cameras? Make them fund their own as a part of their continuing to be allowed to do business legally and above board.

The theft of items from cemeteries is particularly indicative of where we are going as a society. No respect for the dead...there already is no respect for the unborn innocent.

[Smilin Bob]

Great idea "damn fools"! I'm sure the ACLU will say it violates their rights. If you're not breaking the law, you have nothing to worry about, right?

[calypso66]

The drug war will never be won. People stealing to maintain a habit when they could get it as a medical treatment instead of criminal activity to support it.

[Katie]

It's bad enough that metal recyclers fail their civic duty, they compact the metals promptly so the victim can't even recover the stolen goods. Isn't there a law about possession of stolen goods?

Wouldn't it be nice if the resoucefulness that went into a $100+/day habit were put to use managing a functional lifestyle?

[captain skirvy]

captain skirvy always says..."when in rome........nice "blanket" dude!

[ken]

Where are all the lawyers at? Sounds like this guy violated the officers civil rights. Oh! thats rights the garbage that roams our streets have rights, not the cops.

[YoYo]

I happen to know both these boys. They went to high school with my children. This is a shame. They are both really nice kids. It goes to show you what drugs can do to good people. My understanding is the older boy even helps with the Special Olympics. I hope they get the help they need to break away from the drugs.

[Pachacutec]

ken wrote:

Where are all the lawyers at? Sounds like this guy violated the officers civil rights. Oh! thats rights the garbage that roams our streets have rights, not the cops.

So you've noticed that, too, huh?

[SOBE]

I lived in FL late 80's. Back then is was Aluminum. They were stealing highway light poles! Finally the cops went after the recyclers and bam it stopped! Go figure. Somewhere there is a crooked recycler that needs to learn a lesson.

[cracker]

ken wrote:

Where are all the lawyers at? Sounds like this guy violated the officers civil rights. Oh! thats rights the garbage that roams our streets have rights, not the cops.

cops have to many rights already give them a gun and a badge and they think they are superman.

[DARWIN WAS RIGHT]

They hope they "give them something for their heroin addiction"? Sure, how about 1 last great big hit? Then nighty-night, taxpayers are saved money, and there are 2 less scumbags in the world.

Second, it is absolutely imperative to prosecute scrap metal dealers who receive stolen copper, etc., but a problem will arise when we find out the scrapdealers are not local, but in NJ & NY, good luck with getting any cooperation from those 2 states.

[WOW]

how about cracking down on the drugs-the reason why Allentown is a wasteland to begin with. Junk dealers are necessary to keep the "garbage" off the streets. Ever hear of the Broken Windows Theory?

[Pete]

Unless you treat the addition they will be back at it when they get out.This is all costing money .

[Professor Chaos]

Pete wrote:

Unless you treat the addition they will be back at it when they get out.This is all costing money .

"The only way to treat addition is by subtraction" -
Yogi Berra

[meme]

What losers. Get jobs to support your habit so my tax dollars don't have to support your jail time.

[the pickle]

THE VICTIMS HERE ARE THE BOYS. THEY ARE PRODUCTS OF THE REPUBLICAN ECONOMY THAT HAS BANKRUPT OUR COUNTRY IN JUST 8 YEARS! WE ARE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT!
NO WONDER WHY THESE BOYS DON'T HAVE JOBS- THE ECONOMY IS DEAD.
THE SCHOOLS ARE UNDERFUNDED---WHICH IS WHY THEY ARE NOT INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO STAY OFF DRUGS.
THEIR PARENTS WORK 2 JOBS PLUS OVERTIME JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET...SO THEY COULDN'T NURTURE THEIR CHILDREN PROPERLY...
BILL CLINTON LEFT OFFICE WITH A SURPLUS NOT A DEFICIT!!!
WE WILL SPEND 120 (BILLION) DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONEY IN IRAQ THIS YEAR. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP BANKRUPTING THE COUNTRY-- VOTE FOR JOHN 'NEEDS A CAIN' MCAIN... BUT THAT LIBERAL LEANING OLD RAISEN CAN'T HELP US.
BEFORE YOU REPLY: GO PUT $100 IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT RAPING SUV SO GOVERNOR BUSH CAN CONTINUE LACING THE POCKETS OF BIG OIL.
THE SOLUTION: BARACK OBAMA BABY!

[A Cancer patients Mother]

Reading this article really p@sses me off. There are people out there that have a very big problem and its called cancer. These people take drugs, loose their hair, vomit more than they let you know. Sometimes can't go to the bathroom right and have to watch everything they eat. They try and move along with their lives, some still hold a job or do jobs only they can handle. Can't sleep at night out of fear they won't wake up tomorrow and etc etc etc. And these 2 young kids are homeless (by none other than their own choices they make) and never stop for one minute to see what a really sick person on legal drugs live like. Well now these 2 homeless have a home, a meal, and a place to sleep. The state will now pick them up and send them to re-hab (AGAIN) probably give them food stamps, a place to live, and pay all the necessary bills for them to survive and they will still go back to the herion when they have a chance.
Now go back and read about a cancer patient. If this cancer patient runs over his health insurance and must pay for his/her test and perscriptions out of pocket, they are put thru the grinder to even get on the acess program, and more than likely are told you don't qualify for food stamps because the small jobs you have to keep your mind in tack sets you over the limit.

These 2 kids need to be sent to a cancer facility to see some of these people in action. Many people don't know what they go thru on a daily basis, well I do and I am just disgusted to see this article written about 2 healthly individuals on a herion kick. They need to go to prison for a long haul and maybe then they will realize what the rest of the world goes thru.

My guess is the stupid Judge will let them off and give them another chance to clean up. How really sad that our system runs this way.

Thanks for hearing my side. And Morning Call try doing a real article on A Cancer Patient. It will give you something to think about.