The laws and punishments are already there and in Texas they are not light if convicted. That's the ticket... Can you get a CONVICTION?
$500-$1,500: Theft - Texas Class A Misdemeanor - Carries up to a year in jail and a potential fine up to 4000 USD
$1,500-$20,000: Theft: - State Jail Felony - 180 days and 2 years in prison with potential fines as high as $10,000.
So how does it play out? Say you get a max conviction of a 2000 USD theft in Texas by a no holds bared Judge. That would be a fine of 10000 USD and 30 months in jail. Rehab, probation, and good time knock him down to 10 months jail time. Over crowding will know off another 4 months so 6 months jail time and a year of probation where he has to keep clean and continue to pay off his debt with the probation fees. Meh... Most likely it would be a 2000 to 5000 USD fine and he's out...
Ya might think this is not a square deal. But considering the cost of 20000 USD a year to house a healthy inmate in Texas it turns into a real dilemma. If ya think about it that would be a cost of 50000 USD to keep a healthy guy in jail for 30 months on a 2000 USD theft.
I can personally say this, "I can't complain too much about or penal/punishment system because I really don't have a possible solution"...
So what will I do when they steal my bikes?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-pr...-of-good-grief