A 23-year-old homeless man with a criminal record was arrested for shoplifting at a supermarket in Badalona. After being brought before a judge, he was released. Hours later, he returned to the establishment and attacked a female customer with a broken bottle, causing serious injuries to her head and arms in front of her children. The police recaptured him, but the incident highlights a pattern of risk that demands a review of precautionary measures.
Tracking technology: an option not applied in high-risk cases 🛰️
Systems such as electronic ankle bracelets or GPS monitoring could have prevented this escalation. These devices, used in gender-based violence cases, allow for movement monitoring and alerting authorities when approaching restricted areas. In cases of violent recidivism, their application is viable and low-cost compared to the social damage. However, their use in crimes against property or involving homeless individuals remains exceptional. The technology exists; what is lacking is judicial will to employ it with prevention criteria.
The most expensive public transport pass in the world: free to commit crimes, expensive for the victim 🚇
It seems the court gave him a VIP pass to reoffend. First, he steals, they release him; he returns, assaults someone, and still the system gives him another chance. If the justice system worked like a supermarket, he would already have accumulated points for a prize. But the customer didn't get a discount; she got a bottle to the head. Perhaps the only thing missing is giving him a loyalty card for his criminal persistence. Next time, they should hand him a brochure with opening hours.