Social Engineering with a Badge

[Nystul]

I don't mind sting operations in general, but this sounds fairly ridiculous. In the first place, we have far bigger crimes to worry about than someone taking the money out of a lost wallet. If they had taken the wallet/purse, pulled out a credit card, and attempted to make a purchase with it at one of the mall's stores, that would be another matter. Since they were arrested on the premises where they found the property, the number of excuses they can make for not turning it over to the first officer in sight are endless, legitimate or not. They are trying to convict people of an inaction, which surely can't be defined in legal statute. It should just about impossible to prove these people are guilty of theft, and they should probably sue for malicious prosecution after the fact.

There was a local story around here involving a sting operation in which a female officer would sunbathe in the city park sans top, and coax men into exposing themselves. That is apparently legal dress for public parks in Columbus, but hardly within the social norms. The creeps are a real problem, but could be caught more accurately by going out there at night in plain clothes and looking behind the trees or something. Instead of deterring the common criminal, they go after people who react poorly to an unusual situation. Same with this purse turn in.. how about trying to catch actual pickpockets or shoplifters instead of the lady who would dare to find a dollar in public and pocket it?