Should there be special laws or sentencing enhancement for those who steal specialized equipment from the handicapped?

Theft is already a crime. Making it more illegal wouldn’t change much, would it?
Now, if you could rig the stolen equipment to explode at the push of a button…

If you are stealing a wheelchair you are so far beyond thinking rationally harsher laws would be irrelevant.

I doubt imposing harsher sentences would deter those members of society that are cruel enough to want to steal those sorts of items. I mean, really, what does one do with this sort of equipment? Do they just steal it for the pleasure of being a particularly outrageous thief? Or perhaps they know someone who needs the equipment? (Which would actually be a less detestable reason.) I can’t imagine that it is as easy to find buyers for these personalized things as it would be to, say, sell a laptop.

@athenasgriffin :: I know a guy that was arrested for stealing a motorized wheelchair from outside a Safeway. He was wasted and was arrested while spinning circles in someones lawn a few blocks away.

@athenasgriffin I mean, really, what does one do with this sort of equipment? Do they just steal it for the pleasure of being a particularly outrageous thief? The girl’s family that sought help via the media after someone stole their girl’s specializes wheelchair did so, much because they could. It was made in a very unique way, only the girl really could use it, so being virtually custom made I am sure the thief/thieves, knew it was expensive. Maybe part of it was to say to the community, ”See, we can steal anything”, who knows?

Well all I can say is they can adjust the actual laws to specify harder punishments for those who steal from these people.

Name & shame them, put them in the stocks so we can all throw rotten veg at them……… :-/

No, it is a crime already.

I don’t like “enhancements” there are too many already. I would prefer incentives that keep people out of jail. For instance requiring those people to make amends to those they have harmed.

I was temporarily confined to a wheelchair so I feel nothing but compassion for those that are permanently handicapped. I especially remember being talked down to or having my spouse addressed instead of talking directly to me. Anybody that causes further distress to the handicapped needs to be educated, not confined. However, a good “caning” wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Remember the Bill of Rights? Cruel and unusual punishment? We can’t just give people receive harsher sentences because our feelings are hurt.

If I was a religious man I would say there would be a special place in hell for these people. That said the crap they will get from other inmates due to the fact they have stolen from handicapped people is probably extra punishment in itself.

Maybe tattoo their crimes on their foreheads. Dunno, just an idea I’ve been kicking around lately.

It’s a hate crime, yeah let’s fuck with the crippled guy and watch how he gets by. Thieves like that need to work a few weeks in a convalescent home wiping poop off the clients and bathing them and taking them to all their appointments. Let them get a taste of what it’s like to need.

Also I think those who steal tools and equipment from people should be forced to actually use them at a job for no pay…or have their thumbs cut off. Give them that choice. Sad fact is some would rather lose their thumbs.