There's a lack of empathy in theft -- at least burglary -- that I just don't grok. When I try to put myself in a thief's shoes, I can't quite manage to imagine taking stuff without simultaneously imagining feeling horrible for the effect on the owner of the stuff. So I don't understand burglars on an emotional level. (On a straight logical "risk:benefit" and opportunity level, yeah, but not on a human one.)
And your "they don't have a use for it" comment got me thinking about how value is destroyed ... obviously the things have some value to the thief, though most likely only in terms of potential fence price, but nowhere near as much value as any of the things had to me. Even for items I could simply go out and replace if I had the money, the fence isn't going to pay as much as the item is worth in the legitamate market, and even the fence is going to get a below-market price when he sells it in turn, right? And for items with sentimental or personal-history attachments, the loss of value is even greater.
In contrast, most honest endeavors involve creating value.
Re: ...
And your "they don't have a use for it" comment got me thinking about how value is destroyed ... obviously the things have some value to the thief, though most likely only in terms of potential fence price, but nowhere near as much value as any of the things had to me. Even for items I could simply go out and replace if I had the money, the fence isn't going to pay as much as the item is worth in the legitamate market, and even the fence is going to get a below-market price when he sells it in turn, right? And for items with sentimental or personal-history attachments, the loss of value is even greater.
In contrast, most honest endeavors involve creating value.