Shoplifter had worse intentions

OPINION:

Cal Thomas’ “How to deter criminals” (web, Aug. 7) mentions the would-be thief in California who ended up on the receiving end of some physical punishment.

If you watch the video of this incident carefully, you’ll see that when first confronted the criminal makes a furtive movement with his right hand that is consistent with reaching for a weapon.

You see just a flash of it, but a freeze frame shows the man with a black object that looks an awful lot like a fixed-blade knife in his hand. He then returns the item to wherever he had it concealed. 

This was no harmless shoplifter. It’s truly a pity that whoever was operating the video camera didn’t warn the store employees.

I’ve no clue about the laws concerning the carrying of knives in California, but in many states the man would have been considered to be carrying an illegal weapon.

WILLIAM MOORE

Ladysmith, Virginia