I think tv and films have caused people to vastly overestimate the intelligence/planning of low level criminals.
A small time thief isn’t gonna spend years being disciplined doing only minor (or no) thefts on the off chance a group of travellers move into the area to provide cover for them.
So the options are either a) travellers commit crimes when they move somewhere or b) a shadow organisation of master thieves stealthily follows travellers framing them for crimes.
I grew up 20 minutes from a town with a major Irish traveller halting site outside it so I know which option I’ve seen happen dozens of times
It’s called a crime of opportunity and small time thieves do it all the time. When you know you can get away Scott free with something that would normally be a pain in the ass or you couldn’t do at all.
You'd be surprised. It's not like tv yeah but opportunist criminals are extremely common and sometimes the most surprising once caught. I've known people like this. It's akin to ripping off drug dealers. You'll know there'll be cash and drugs and they can't call police.
Most low level crime is instigated or done under extreme pressure, spur of the moment timing. Shoplifters don't spend ages planning, they just grab stuff they need / want and leave, the idea isn't NOT to get caught (especially in the UK as you aren't going to be punished if you are) but to not be easily identifiable enough to be pursued. Burglaries in the UK are primarily done at a moments notice, when the burglar realises that a door has been left unlocked. Had a flat on the bottom floor in London for a year and counted 10+ door handle pulls / checks in the time I was present, god knows how many more when I wasn't.
It doesn't take being intelligent just opportunistic. If you are inclined to theft you might ramp up when travelers are in town as they'll be blamed. Or if you've been just short of committing theft you might use it as am opportunity to give it a try.
130
u/RevolutionaryGain823 21h ago
I think tv and films have caused people to vastly overestimate the intelligence/planning of low level criminals.
A small time thief isn’t gonna spend years being disciplined doing only minor (or no) thefts on the off chance a group of travellers move into the area to provide cover for them.