HalifaxTalk.com

[Marine1]

Emily, I'm really sorry to hear this and glad no one was hurt. We can only hope the culprit is caught before they do it again.

[perspective]

[MLS]

[squirrelgirl55]

Whew! Reading this thread made my hair hurt!

I am just thinking that one big thing to gain from all this is to be much more aware of things going on in our community. I was the victim of an attempted armed robbery here in the county several years ago, in a busy parking lot. THAT blew me away and I have been a lot more "aware". It is a sad state of affairs that we cannot even feel safe in a church parking lot.

So, I am so glad no one was hurt...at least not physically. But I do know that one feels violated. Much more is taken than just one's belongings...a lot of peace of mind and serenity is taken.

With that, I will step back and let the parallel universes rock on!
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[tom mclaughlin]

I have been robbed once in my lifetime. Happened after my wife and I drove up to New York years ago to visit a high school friend of hers. After the long trip to the city we repaired to a corner bar (our host for the weekend was still at work) and when we got back to our car the side window was broken out and all our stuff was gone.

What happened next was pretty mind-blowing. Our little nothingburger theft drew the attention of what must have been a half-dozen New York cops (society's finest indeed) who imparted some very useful advice after they heard out our story. First tip: go visit the corner park the next morning to see if our stuff might be for sale by the sidewalk. And damned if it wasn't. Most of the contents of my suitcase were laid out by the street, with various riff-raff hawking it to passing strangers, and the same was true for my wife's stuff. (Her camera, alas, was long gone). We ducked into the nearest store, called the cop who had left his number the night before, and the boys in blue swept through in what must have been a New York second. We ended up getting most of our possessions back.

Now that's police work! Can't happen all the time, obviously, but sure is nice when it does. Which brings me to the point: There's a peculiar sentiment that seems to be bubbling up in this thread that because Emily Noblin is the sheriff's wife, she ought to be happy with a slack-bass response when her purse is stolen. How about the opposite conclusion: why not extend the gold standard to all crime victims? I know: doesn't happen. But why?

Part of the problem, obviously, is that Halifax is a big place and it's impossible for cops to be Johnny-on-the-spot everywhere. (First Baptist Church, less of a problem). But maybe a problem too is the fact your average cop in this town makes more or less jack squat, and there aren't enough officers around to meet the public's needs. I really don't think that's something people should blame Emily or Stanley Noblin for.

And yes, maybe the fact that the sheriff's wife was involved had some bearing on the matter. Man bites dog and all that.

BTW, I don't think this episode will make the papers (although obviously I can't speak for the crew across town).

[Tarheel]

Parallel universe aside.....

Tom I am glad that your New york situation was taken care effectively and with great force and speed.

As I said earlier...I only hope that this kind of attention is paid to "regular folk" when said crime happens to one of us in Halifax County.

To me it more about preferential treatment than anything else.

Things that smack of preferential treatment are always going to attract attention, especially when they involve elected political officials or their families....I would think that you as a journalist should be well aware of that.

Let me ask you this. If I were to be elected say, mayor (before anyone takes this further than it needs to go....I have no intention of that...just an example) and members of my family were deemed by people in town to be receiving on multiple levels special treatment from the town ....are you honestly telling me that you would not find that worthy of discussion?

Let's say that Jeff was still Sheriff....and Mrs. Oakes was deemed to have on several occasions received special treatment from law enforcement...would you find that worthy of discussion?
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“Among natural rights are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” ---> Samuel Adams

[Dusty]

At least one officer had to be there to investigate the situation. You don't think Sheriff Noblin would be allowed to investigate or even assist in the investigation involving his wife??? Is it wrong that the Sheriff went to check on his wife and see if she was ok?

Back when Jim Miller was sheriff, I had an attempted breakin at my home. I was inside the house. I called the Sheriff's dept. Sheriff Miller came as well as several deputies. One ATF agent came and he just happened to be in town. It's not unusual for more than one officer to go.

If some of you had a spouse that was in a car accident, wouldn't you go check on him/her? Wouldn't some of your friends go? Wouldn't you and your friends gather at the hospital if the spouse was taken to the hospital?

Just a little food for the vultures.

[Tarheel]

Dusty,

Attempted home invasions (especially when someone is at home) are a vastly different matter than the removal of a purse from an unoccupied, (unlocked?) car that actually took place the night before, IMO...but that aside.

No one has suggested that Stanley should not have been there. Absolutely he should have...it was his wife. Of course one other officer had to come to do the report....fine.

However, the 5 or more others that were present, and searching for the lost merchandise is what made it seem to be preferential treatment.

I do not think it is exactly customary for 7 or so officers to do an extensive foot search for a lost purse. Are you suggesting that it is? Are you suggesting that this would have happened had it been a regular Joe?

Does the police and SO customarily go out in force looking stolen purses, or stolen lawn mowers, or power tools taken from sheds? Do they do that for stolen bikes or whatever? I contend the answer is no. Therefore, I think it is reasonable and (not vulturistic) to discuss preferential treatment being afforded here.

If these are the procedures that are customarily followed...then OK.
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“Among natural rights are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” ---> Samuel Adams

[mw]

I recently was involved in an incident that required a call to the SBPD for some help. There was no crime involved, property damage was. An officer was at my house in less than 5 minutes. While I was talking to the first officer, two more showed up. Appears that it may be SOP, for officers to provide backup for each other in any situation, including non violent ones. Sign of the times, I guess. Anyone who thinks some wrongdoing was involved could call the SBPD and ask. The crime did take place in SoBo, after all.
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The Lord gives, government taxes it away.

[DiversionsGirl]