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The reading habits of criminals

Someone called me the other day and asked why we were writing so much about the recent rash of break-ins. Among other things, he said, it has the effect of glorifying the thieves. In return, I said the stories were clearly of interest to our readers and that, maybe, the publicity would deter the crimes.

"Criminals don't read the paper," he responded.

I told that story to an old journalist friend who said, "No, but the police do. And it's more important that the police see the publicity than the criminals. These aren't masterminds, after all. The more attention you put on these idiots, the more pressure law enforcement feels to catch them."

I suspect that the police feel enough pressure as it is, but still, it can't hurt.

Are there related stories you want us to do?

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Tags: News judgment

Posted by John Robinson on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 10:12 am

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lexalexander

October 22, 2009 - 11:46 am EDT

I was glad to see some perspective in Ryan's article today about how NIP's burglary problem compares with those in other parts of the city.

gsostudent

October 22, 2009 - 5:05 pm EDT

What is this category of people that are criminals that we're talking about here? Are you somehow suggesting that only poor people commit crimes, or uneducated people? I hope you all realize exactly how absurd that is. It's not about who uses drugs, for example, it's about where it's enforced. You don't see the police raiding Greensboro College or Elon Law for drug busts because that isn't the profile, but we all know they're there.

Maybe it just illustrates why the N&R only focuses on blue collar crime though, rather than the racket of people that are "running" this City and robbing people blind.

John Robinson

October 22, 2009 - 9:25 pm EDT

I am referring to the criminals who are breaking into people's houses and taking things that they don't own. Where do you get that I suggest that only poor people or uneducated ones commit crimes?

Feel free to share your evidence of city leaders robbing people blind. We'll report it if it holds up.

Ryan Seals

October 23, 2009 - 12:01 pm EDT

I agree with John on this one. I can't see where we've come off saying that only poor uneducated people only commit crime. I've covered a lot of crimes over the past two years and can say from experience that anyone who has that perception is kidding themselves.

I've seen a woman with a masters degree plead guilty to practicing medicine without a license, an educated man from a privileged background get charged with breaking into some of the very homes we're writing about now. There are suspects and victims from the top to bottom throughout the city's income demographics.

brian444

October 23, 2009 - 12:20 am EDT

Well, how about something like what Lex suggests: a series of investigative reports on crime on Greensboro, top to bottom. Where does it happen, who commits it, who are its victims? You published a a story with a map of Gbo murders a while back; why not do that across the board of criminal activity: rape, burglary, white collar crime, domestic violence, robbery, drug offenses, all the way down? What are the patterns of enforcement? Who's more likely to get arrested for smoking pot: a UNCG student, a Glenwood renter, or my neighbor from whose yard the aroma of cannibis drifts regularly?

First, it would provide your readers with important, relevant information. Second, it would answer the implicit objection Lex raises: that crime in white neighborhoods is deemed more newsworthy than similar crime in black neighborhoods. But I doubt it would make gsostudent very happy, since you'd find that criminals do trend strongly toward the poor and uneducated.