I agree that one Freddo Frog is quite trivial. However, it isn't just one Freddo Frog, the only thing that got ever stolen from that shop.I have lived around Aboriginal people and seen what it is like for shopkeepers in these areas. At any moment, a group of children might arrive. They will just walk around picking stuff up and putting it down, watching the shopkeeper the whole time. Often, they will play games: Three will disapear around a corner, two will stage a mock fight, one will ask the shopkeeper stupid questions and all of them are watching the shopkeeper the whole time, waiting for them to look the wrong direction. This might happen once in a day, it might happen twenty times.

Lets not pretend it is just a matter of one Freddo Frog.

White kids getting the same treatment isn't news.

examinator

LOL. You must have heard about how 'cranky' I've been lately and how I'm in need of a good laugh. :)

Yes, you're reeling them in, that's for sure. No running away now and leaving me to swat the flies, or yes, it will be the naughty corner. :)

So far there's lots buzzing around, but nothing of any substance worth taking a hit at.

Houellebecq

You're cheering me up too I see, even if your tongue is firmly planted in your cheek.

An aboriginal head of state would be okay by me. Much better than a television or sporting celebrity, which is what we'll end up with if we opt for a popularly elected head of state, as seems likely, when the republic idea finally does come about.

From what I heard on the news and radio today, this little treasure is no angel.
The freddo was obviously the frog that broke the camels back!

I don't care what race they are, if they steal and thieve from shops then insurance premiums go up and we all pay more for our goods.

Make the parents pay 10 times the value of the stolen goods(take it from their centrelink payments if necessary) every time their young kids steal something.
Surely that will help them to be stricter with their kids behaviour?

"They'd have a file on you by now, Ludwig, you've made so many of these reports! They're probably writing this one off as just another case of the boy who cried wolf. :)"

Bronwyn, I've made about one report a year on average over the last decade. I made a few early on and then had a big gap. I'd given up on it as I only ever once heard back that the police had actually pursued a complaint. But this one today simply had to be reported.

Yes they might have a file on me. If they do it is bound to be viewed negatively, rather than positively as a conscientious citizen concerned about road safety who takes the time to do his citizenly duty and report dangerous, stupid and unlawful antics occasionally.

"Seriously, what do you expect them to do about it?"

As with a complaint of any other nature - alleged theft, assault, vandalism, etc, I'd expect them to pursue it and lay charges if after a good analysis of the situation they deem it appropriate.

What do you think they should do? Just tell the complainant that there is nothing they can or will do? And therefore that rank drivers can get away all sorts of bullsh!t on our roads with impunity, until they cause an accident or kill someone or unless the police witness their antics.

"I don't see lack of consistency as the problem, I see racism as the real issue here."

Well, if it is racism, then it is a lack consistency, isn't it!

Whether or not it is racially motivated - and I'm not willing to accept that it is just because this boy is Aboriginal - it is certainly a setback for reconciliation, etc.

It is also a setback for the image of the police across all of Australian society. Or maybe it isn't. Maybe it just sits within the behavioral paradigm that we've come expect from the police.

I don't want to badmouth the cops. I dearly want to support them. But by crikey they do make it hard.

I had a car stolen & totally wrecked & also had a break-in worth a lot of $ by Aboriginal youngsters. The car thief got caught & the (white female) magistrate let him off with a caution. The burglars are still not identified. My (black) mate had his mobile phone stolen by a teenaged aboriginal girl (he saw her) & went to the (white & black) cops. Nothing ! he asked the cops why she hadn't been charged. they told him "well, we asked her if she took the phone & she said no".
Are these facts racist ?