points by BeetleB 3 days ago | 0 comments
> Robbers don't kill people for mere $50k.
Here in the US, people kill for a lot less.
[–] skissane 3 days ago
[–] rjsw 3 days ago
Another example: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw8rzpl1ldkdo
[–] BeetleB 3 days ago
> Apparently, this strategy wasn't invented in Australia
It's an old strategy. It's commonly been part of plots of various stories/movies in the US going back decades.
[–] skissane 3 days ago
> It's an old strategy. It's commonly been part of plots of various stories/movies in the US going back decades.
I think significant aspects of it are quite novel – e.g. teenagers being recruited via Signal or Telegram, often by overseas fugitive gang leaders; some cases have even (allegedly) involved Iranian government agents
Also, there's a difference between something repeatedly happening in fiction over decades, and law enforcement seeing multiple real life cases of it over a few months in a single metro area
[–] tartoran 3 days ago
People do indeed kill for the kick of it. But professional robbers stick to robbing, sometimes going as far as to not use real weapons in case they get caught. But there are all kind of offenders, some with mental health probelms or some panicking who end up killing even if they did not intend to do that initially.
[–] t-3 3 days ago
Professional robbers aren't really a thing. It's more a lifestyle, and it tends to be quite short. Many people who would consider robbing others would kill for 50k, because most robbers and thieves are not rational profit maximizers, to say the least. 50k is the kind of money that makes normal people start getting ideas, let alone criminals.
[–] BeetleB 3 days ago
Most robbers are not "professional robbers".
And incidentally, in case you didn't know, to classify as a robber you need to either use, or threaten, with violence.
The average burglar is not a robber.
[–] silverFork 3 days ago
The wife was bludgeoned to death in her bed. Do you think the rubber would do that? why in her room? not at the site of the safe. seriously?!
In Australia, organised crime has taken to hiring teenagers as hitmen; e.g. the perpetrators of a failed assassination attempt against a retired footballer (they shot him but he survived) included a 15 year old and 16 year old – https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sixteen-heart-pumping-ab...
Reasons for using teenagers include that they cost less, they are impressionable, easier to manipulate, eager to "prove themselves", and receive more lenient sentencing (especially those under 18). Adult hitmen demand thousands, they'll find a teenager willing to do it for $500 (AUD 500 = USD 350). https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/at-the-crossroads-offend...
Apparently, this strategy wasn't invented in Australia, Australian criminals have copied it from Europe where it was already established (particularly in Sweden and the Netherlands)