Crime does not pay but it can be fun

July 6, 2008

I’ve always been of the view that crime does not pay or, to be more exact, that blue-collar crime that involves removing physical objects from people, houses or banks does not pay. White-collar crime such as fraud and tax evasion does pay in some cases because the rewards are higher and the risks lower.

I once wrote a column to this effect, having been reminded that even one famous US jewel thief found it hard to make a decent living. Film heroes who steal things, such as Thomas Crown, always live opulently but I don’t think that reflects reality.

However, a story today in the Los Angeles Times about Doris Payne, a jewel thief who walked into jewellery stores and palmed large diamond rings did make me think. She did not get rich and she was eventually caught and sent to jail but she wore fine clothes and “had lots of fun”. That counts for something.

July 6th, 2008 in Uncategorised | Permalink

One Response to “Crime does not pay but it can be fun”

Comments

  1. Re crime. Haven’t you noticed, JG, that people don’t seem to rob banks any more - now it’s the
    other way round: BANKS ROB PEOPLE.

    Posted by: J.J. | July 7th, 2008 at 7:26 am | Report this comment

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