Is it really any different than the thief who steals things just under the felony limit...but does it every day?

In Texas the felony limit is $2,500. Is stealing $1000 on Monday, $1000 on Tuesday, and $1000 on Wednesday really so much better than stealing $3,000 on Monday?

The delay gives you time to arrange a refund from Visa/Mastercard or to make an insurance claim, if you're a business. You don't really have to lose anything from theft. It's just a business expense for your insurance or card issuer.

It's pretty sad that it's so normalized in our society that it's just a business expense

It shouldn't be. It's a crime

I doubt it has anything to do with "progressive". It has to do with limited resources and spending them where they think they will do the most good.

but it's been proven time and time again, that any form of fraud of theft, leads to at least 3x more in the future.

If they get away with it, they never stop, and just keep stealing more and more. Most never hit any repercussions. Yet in amount of actual numbers of people committing those acts, it's a very small number compared to the number of thefts.

So stopping it early is just smarter. Better to stop someone stealing 250 euro, rather than wait a year, let that same person steal more and more, just until they steal 5000 euro and it's worth it to prosecute. It's still the same person, same amount of effort. Just more damage to society.

> I did file it as $2k+ of stolen goods but afaik the cops never pursued it and the thief got away with it.

Hah. I had pretty good evidence when it came to my stolen laptop and iPhone when I was given a lead to the person selling them on eBay (essentially, someone bought the phone on eBay, tried to convince me to unlock it, and when I refused and the seller refused to take it as a return, he said "I know the real owners info and I'm giving him your info").

His eBay page was a treasure trove. Probably 100+ phones for sale, most "without charger". Same, 50+ laptops, "no chargers or accessories".

Contacted the police.

"He probably didn't steal them himself" - Uhh, isn't selling knowingly stolen property still a crime?

"..."

They could not possibly have cared less.

Crime itself is 100% political issue as well, and you show a case of that.

Someone steals enough from big box store, and the cops DO RESPOND and charge etc.

Individual has proof of multiple thefts, and cops don't give one fuck, as in your case.

Now speaking of retail theft, by far the biggest retail theft is time-theft against employees. Do you know wwhat happens when you report that? You're told its a civil matter.

Individual wronged == civil matter

Big company == criminal matter

> feels close to entrapment

It doesn't feel close to entrapment at all.

Maybe you could argue they aren't doing their best to minimise losses and such aren't eligible for a full recovery of their losses, but not that the perpetrator didn't commit the offense.