Have you ever witnessed a crime? If yes, what did you do about it?

Question

Did you call the cops? Told someone?  Example: a teenager shoplifting at a department store. What would you have done? Or just let it go?

CassandraSpender · Accepted Answer

As a native American transwoman I texas I get attention and am mistak3n for Hispanic, which tends to racial profiling. One evening I was in the local Kroger and was being tailed by the cop they hired off duty to catch shoplifters... all the while I watched 3 teenagers steal all manner of stuff. The officer even followed me out to my car. I went inside and went to the customer service desk and asked to see the manager, the off duty cop stayed his distance. Watched the shoplifters leave before the manager got there, and told the manager to call the cop over and told them they had shoplifters. When he asked for a description I simply told him that he can check his cameras, but that the cop would have seen them get robbed blind if he weren't too busy profiling me because of the color of my skin. When he objected I told the manager I watched the kids the whole time, and this guy followed me to my car while he was being robbed. ... never saw that officer work there again

You see something, you say something or do something, but one must also keep in mind the bigger picture for the greater good

DeeDeeDeVour · Accepted Answer

One I will never forget.

Not only did I witness a crime, I was the victim of the crime.

I got stabbed in my abs twice, lost a lot of blood and, eventually, lost consciousness as a result.

Before succumbing to my deep wounds, I managed to subdue one of my two aggressors first.

The other bolted but eventually got nabbed by the cops.

msc545 · Answer

So there used to be a lot of prostitutes on sunset boulevard in Hollywood and I was living in the Hollywood hills at the time and used to drive down sunset all the time to go various places. One Saturday my girlfriend and I were driving down sunset about four blocks west of Fairfax and there was a prostitute standing on the corner and we were stopped at a red light as the light turned green. This car came flying down. The street went right past me on the wrong side of the street and stopped by the girl. These three guys jumped out of the car. Knocked the girl down and dragged her into the back of the car and took off. I remember thinking to myself. I wonder if this was just part of the movie scene and I wasn't seeing it correctly? It was not a movie. I pulled over and spoke with my girlfriend about what she we should do as I was not about to get into a car. Chase. It might be okay in the movies to do this, but it certainly is not okay in real life and it's something nobody should ever do as it is quite unsafe and very illegal. So I drove two or three blocks and noticed a police car parked on the side of the road on sunset. I stopped behind the police car, got out of my car and in motion to the cop who is standing on the sidewalk. He came walking over and I explained to him what we had seen. My girlfriend and I spoke to him for a minute and she finally said to him that she had gotten the license number and memorized it of the car that had grabbed the girl. The cop got a little bit excited about this and got on his radio and said to me. Please follow me so I did and we went back to Fairfax and sunset and sure enough some other cops had the car pulled over and the girl and the guy that grabbed her were standing on the curb along with the others. The cops asked me if this was the car I had seen and this was the girl and I told them it was. So they said to wait a minute and pretty soon a police sergeant pulled up and talked with me and my girlfriend for a while and finally said to us well look she doesn't want to press charges and she's not hurt and these guys were just messing around according to all of them. I didn't believe it for a moment but I know better than to argue with cops. So then the sergeant said to me if you and your girlfriend want to testify in court, we'll go ahead and arrest these guys. But I think it's a bad idea. I looked at my girlfriend. She was shaking her head no and I think the sergeant and said I would prefer not to testify and my girlfriend indicated the same. The sergeant said well look. There's nothing to worry about. She's just a hooker and it doesn't really matter what they do to her. I was horrified to hear this but I realized I could create a real problem if I insisted on testify. And so off we went. This was a long time ago but I've never forgotten this incident and it brought to light the fact that the cops can choose to ignore crimes even up to and including kidnapping and nothing happens to them as a result. I've kept this in mind ever since.

BadApple69 · Answer

The last crime I witnessed was at 2am someone breaking into cars on my street (suburbs). A car alarm went off next door and it’s an alarm that never goes off. So I went outside wearing only sweat pants, no shirt and no shoes. It was November and below freezing outside. The neighbor who’s car it was came out too. I asked if everything was alright and he said yes but he thought he saw someone at the end of our street. So I went to check it out. Yes bare foot and no shirt.
As I walked down the street I saw someone, well I know all my neighbors and he wasn’t one of them. So I hollered for the other neighbor and I started running towards this stranger. He took off running carrying 2 bags which he ended up dropping. He ran into a field at the end of the street so being barefoot I decided to stop chase. A third neighbor heard what was going on and called the police. The police found this guy hiding in the field.
Interesting night.

Sevenpointfive · Answer

petty theft i don't really care about unless it's my stuff. but i've been an accessory to many when i was naïve and young and i've seen some but can't remember many.

i did watch this one dumbass try to back into a space at Wal-Mart and completely scratched the hell out of someone's disabled vehicle. he pulled forward and tried again but he just couldn't make it work. it was not pretty, but either his passenger (who's car i think he was driving) or himself wised up and parked a good ways away but not far enough. they got out as if nothing happened and went shopping. no one was going to do anything so it was up to me.

exitseven · Answer

I worked in the city for 20 years. I have seen assaults, thefts, and drug deals. One of the funniest crimes I saw was there was a shoe store across the street that was on fire. I was on the second floor so I could see right in the window at the firefighters who were inside trying on shoes that they were going to steal. They just wanted to make sure they got the right size.

I witnessed a cop brutally beat up a person that was under arrest. In the cop's defense, the prisoner spit at him. I figured he had it coming.

AimeeKyle · Answer

Yes…. A hit and run. I made a U turn, followed them while dialing 911. I continued following them, updating dispatch/911 until the cops intercepted us. I hung back, another police officer stopped us and took our statement/info.

Don’t be a bi-stander if you have the means or capability to do something to help, do it. If you don’t have the capabilities, record/video the incident and give a detailed report to the police.

Miah05 · Answer

I did. And the cops were there so i kinda just watched.

Not sure what he did but he was cuffed, and the cop turned and looked away, and dude shoulder checked the cop knocking him on the hood of the car knocking the wind out of him.

He ran away still handcuffed.

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

I hate thieves, so yeah. Sometimes you just gotta do it yourself because it'll take the cops forever to get there and even then they may not care enough to do something.

Walked into a couple assaults and a mugging in progress back in the day. A drunk driving hit and run

Jerre · Answer

Several years ago I saw a guy trying to rape a girl. I stopped him by hitting his balls with my hammer. I was working on the outside of my house when I heard her scream. Bet that guy had blue balls for a longtime. She was able to identify him to police and he was arrested the next day.

NaultD · Answer

A woman got knocked out by some guy and a dozen people including myself walked up to the guy and body block the knock out woman. i Called for police and ambulance.

I think she instigated it after everything was concluded but didn't deserve getting knock out. I'm hopeful if that happens people body block together is more common then people just recording like what you see on the internet.

TipsyFr · Answer

At the shopping mall two big guys running for their lives with IPhones in their hands from the Apple Store, the guards running after them, those guards weren’t playing around but neither were the thieves. I did absolutely nothing by the time I realised they were thieves they had already shooted passed me, in my head if I had realised I could’ve tripped them over but hey in my head I can do a lot of things 😂 ✌️

Sparkie460 · Answer

I caught a guy that broke into my neighbors car. I called another neighbor who came over. The guy got away but we chased him. Ended in a high speed chase, him getting the crap beat out of him by us and 12 other neighbors. The cops came and arrested him.

RavVid · Answer

Yes. A homeless girl snitched my cigarettes after I refused her.

I did do something about it. I chased her down the street yelling "Stop thief stop". Several people did try to stop her but she dodged well. So I think in general everybody enjoyed it.

Unfortunately for her, she had a wardrobe malfunction. Her running shorts fell down and hobbled her, allowing a guy to catch her by her backpack.

She did have quite a nice ass so it was a plus seeing it.

tzdc21 · Answer

I have. When I worked at a grocery store, a couple of people stole a bottle of alcohol. They clearly were drunk because the black magnetic cap was still on it, and they full throttled in reverse when the exit was LITERALLY right in front of them. And then they nearly ran me over.

Dargil · Answer

I was in a grocery store and watched the cashier not scan certain items for someone she knew or favored. She went through the motions and missed the scanner intentionally.

After I checked out, I went to the manager and told him that he should have someone watch the casher carefully at aisle 6. He might see something he didn't like. He was smart enough NOT to ask me what it was. I think he figured it out.

love_conquers_lust · Answer

I stole a pack of fruit stripe bubblegum from the store when I was 4. I couldn’t keep my story straight and learned I was a terrible liar. My sister told on me. I was furious with her, but she did the right thing. My parents took me back to the store. The store manager walked me around the store asking me questions.

The one that stuck out was “How would you like it if I came to your house and took all your toys?”

I didn’t want to steal it explicitly, I just wanted gum.

Fuentes · Answer

I grew up with crime and it ain't my issue why would u call the cops on a shop lifter infact in LA its OK to shoplift, they won't do anything about it. It would be a pointless arrest them, they will get out easily a judge will dismiss the case.

spartan55 · Answer

I did witness a crime about a year ago. Saw a guy pull a rifle out of his SUV and chase three guys across a parking lot. Turns out they were breaking into his vehicle. I stealth called 911 and WHOA, the police were there in force within four minutes.

artgorgeous · Answer

When i was in Czech Republic, i saw a guy who was supposedly selling drugs, and at the same time i saw a cop like 200 meters away from him. I didn't do nything about it because i thought cops were aware and they covered him.

jshm2 · Answer

Sure, committed a few in my time too.

Did nothing about it, and ensured there was no one around to do something about it either.

But then, a crime is not a crime when there is no one to witness, or no court has ruled on it.

Sonorous · Answer

Oh yeah! I have! And as soon as my brain registered what happened... I just kept on mindin my own bidness. 👴 damn right. Ain't nobody got time for dat. I got my shows to get back too.

strateguy632 · Answer

a long long time ago at work a man grabbed another man zipper, i was obligated to report sexual attack, and after the minimum days, to the day the job fired me.

Simslover92 · Answer

Yes I have. Some friends of mine stole some shirts from Walmart when I was younger and I didn't say anything.

Jp1990 · Answer

Yes, and I ran since I happened to be the criminal lol

robocop666 · Answer

I saw police beat up a child in a train station. This was before social media so nobody could post it online. We all knew they would get away with it.

ObscuredBeyond · Answer

Witnessed a hit and run. Helped serve as a witness for the victim, by staying until police arrived to give my testimony.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Had to call police on a few probably alcohol-fueled street fights.

normalice · Answer

I watched a cop run a red light without his lights on. I did nothing about it.

Drewtate · Answer

Shop lifting. A man beating his girlfriend. Fights. Generally I stay out of such stuff.

rgii55447 · Answer

I jaywalked, and I didn't care, technically, that counts I guess.

DarkLegacy · Answer

Witnessed loads of crimes, will only do anything about it if it concerns me or people im concerned with.

Chthou95 · Answer

I was just a kid when my neighbors house was shot up by gang members looking for someome there. I knew who they were looking for but this guy had gang members always looking for him around the area

Ava1993 · Answer

I kinda saw one was at supermarket. Was talking to a friend we saw someone stole a 12 pack of pepsi. Did nothing cause they were far away was confused at the time. The sodas were at door.

Massageman · Answer

Yes. Several people told the store personnel who just let the guy go on his merry way.

Lokiion · Answer

Many times all sorts of crimes and what I did about it was move on with my day.

BigDog1989 · Answer

Not intentionally. I don't think they were trying to steal, but, I could be wrong

BLP11520 · Answer

Kids set a dumpster on fire I called police and fire department. I have seen assaults and theft and several other crimes

Z1pTD · Answer

We've all seen someone run a red light or stop sign.

hornyguytbh · Answer

Yeah, I have seen some like crossing red light and like a beggar over road. But never called the cops.

dolemite58 · Answer

i grew up in oakland so i’ve seen people get shot multiple times

Call_me_anyname · Answer

You better say it to the shop keeper and say her to check the cctv and report the cops

nawtee_me · Answer

Chased them and called the cops

Andres77 · Answer

I prevented a few. I just got in the way.

motownplayer2000 · Answer

You trying to get some people implicated.. lol

Jennz6 · Answer

I was the victim

Christoff92 · Answer

Just saw and witnessed it. Nothing else.

mira3japharova · Answer

I think I will call the cops

jimmy2 · Answer

Nothing

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