I don't advocate violence, however tempting. But I do think that this sort of crime warrants heavily loaded prison sentences which will make people sit up and think a bit. The same applies to the toerags who are raiding war memorials and infrastructure wiring for scrap metal. And while we are on the subject, let's include all those scammers who use the Internet to rob people and bring down websites just for the fun of it.
These people don't have consciences, they just take calculated risks, so they will only respond to the prospect of severe penalties which means that the game isn't worth the candle. While I'm not in favour of violence, which ultimately lowers society to a similar level, measures such as hard labour do have certain attractions. How about digging out the foundations for a new motorway by hand?
Some people have been shocked by the sentences handed out to those who participated in the London riots. Well, tough luck, examples need to be made' pour encourager les autres'.
Colin