Hacker News Reader

Comment by yonran | Hacker News Reader

Did the cops give the scooter shop a citation for failing to record the source of the stolen article on https://www.leadsonline.com/? (This post from last month recounted how a laptop repair man in New York City got in trouble for this law https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27810019 specifically Administrative Code §20-273 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYC... (electronics record required for each purchase AND sale of second-hand articles) and Rules Title 28 §21-07 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYC... (electronics record must be at a designated website leadsonline.com)). The previous post was about the unintended consequence of the law on law-abiding shops, but here we should see the intended consequence that it should shut down shops that fence stolen goods.

View on HN

The scooter shop could have a protection arrangement. The laptop repair man clearly does not.

It’s probably unlikely given that the cops pressed them at all, but it is a valid concern. It is quite clear that the e-bike shop owners know very very well that they’re trading in hot merchandise, and they’re probably facilitating it.

I would love to make “enemies” of these guys and see how far the dominos fall.

Unless as a society we push these criminals, we’ll end up back in the heyday of organized crime and mafia run cities. Corruption is a constant battle.

> end up back in the heyday of organized crime and mafia run cities

… this is New York.

I live in LA and had a similar experience to the original poster. I had an employee who stole $19,000 for me and I called in and made a police report and got no help. Then I went to the precinct and asked for help and got nothing. Finally, I called the mayor and their office put pressure on the police to actually help. Absolutely ridiculous. I am convinced that anyone who puts in a minimum effort to get away with almost any crime in America at this point.

I think you meant to write "who stole $19,000 from me" and not "who stole $19,000 for me."

Probably would get faster police attention, but not the kind you want.

That does sound really worrying. How bad would situation have to get in LA before you would move out?

I did move out. I now live in rural Washington state.

How does the rate for similar property crime compare in your experience? An order of magnitude less?

Rural areas are supposed to have much lower crime statistically than urban areas.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com