Emily, you are a professional journalist, right? Houchin Blood Bank was not ROBBED. They were the victim of a theft. You are as bad as Mike Hart on the KERO news. He thinks burglary and robbery are the same thing. Oh you silly Bakersfield reporters.  

That stinks, but is it a little selfish of me to think that they should have insurance to protect against something like this? 

Either way, I know the good people of Kern County will answer the call to help out.  It just sucks when we have to help out to catch up and not to get ahead.

OldBlue,

While your tone is not warranted, you are right about the difference between robbery and theft. Thank you for pointing that out. I have changed it in the post.

In case anyone else was curious about the difference:

• Theft is "the generic term for all crimes in which a person intentionally and fraudulently takes personal property of another without permission or consent and with the intent to convert it to the taker's use (including potential sale)," according to the Law.com dictionary.
  
• Robbery is "the direct taking of property (including money) from a person (victim) through force, threat or intimidation."
  
• Burglary is "the crime of breaking and entering into a structure for the purpose of committing a crime."

Now Emily, how do to you tell a "tone" from a written comment? Hum.

And your definitions of robbery and burglary are not completely accurate. Not in California anyway. But at least you know the general difference now.

See, you are now smarter than Mike Hart on this subject.

A person who breaks into a home, business or locked car to steal is committing burglary.  A person who steals from another person directly by force (like a purse snatch) or fear (threats or by using a weapon) is committing a robbery.

Section §211 of the California Penal Code defines robbery as “the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear.” Robbery is also considered a violent crime because it involves the use or threat of force against a person.

Burglary is the crime of breaking and entering a building with intent to steal something or commit a felony inside – even if the person or persons doing the breaking and entering end up committing the felony or not. As a result, California Penal Code §459 provides that the prosecution need only prove that the offender intended to steal something or commit a felony.

Do I pass your test now, OldBlue?

The story you were interviewed for was in 2005 and I took the information right from your interview.

Outstanding Mike.

Boils down to taking something not yours~ bad by any name. I'll let the police,reporters and lawyers quibble over "codes". My "code" says taking something not yours is wrong~ and especially heinous when said items belong to an organization that helps people.

That's the important bit to take away from the post,that and the need to donate~ and I got that message loud and clear Emily. Thank you.

OB, you were intrerviewed?  You are famous?  WOW.   I want your autograph.  Can I sell it on ebay?   I have a couple of auctions going so I could put it right on there.

(razzing ya, ya know)

(Off topic but I put a bottle of cologne on there last week and it sold for 65.50.  I almost fell out of my chair.  What can I get for your autograph?)

Nancy, my autograph and 89 cents will get you a taco at Taco Bell....

OB,  that works for me.  Add another 99 cents and I can get a cheese rollup and the drink is free.  See there, you'll have helped pay for half my lunch.

Nancy~ I regret putting up an old post card of the first hang glider U.S.mail delivery over the Ridge Route~ but the sixty bucks was sweet!The $400.00 doll dress was my personal best~ those doll folks are one competitive bunch,but really nice people. How is EBay selling these days? Thinking of unloading some stuff myself.Sorry to OT the blog.

And the thefts are going to get more frequent as time goes by..reguardless if it's private or commerical...to some folks,this is their way to make a buck--and I'm sure they know the difference between right and wrong....one can only tighten their belts just so much...IMHO

It's not a matter of tightening their belts, it's about a desire to get high.

Sage, I'm just getting back to it (selling that is..I've bought there along) but it's working for me.  I have another bottle of Red Door on right now with a bid of over 10 bucks a day or so to go.  My daughter sells "Vintage Lingerie" and does pretty well with that.  A lot of people don't like buying that stuff in stores.  My personal best was $325 for an old clock from Santa Fe RR office.  It was bakelite but was so plain you wouldn't have thought anything about it.  Had to split the money with my landlord who supplied it but hey...it was a good deal.  $123 for some jewelry picked up at a yard sale that turned out to be collectable Lunch At The Ritz..  Fun times.

My apologies too for high jacking the blog.

Lingatoo, to thieves, stealing is much easier than working for a living.

Cool~ I have a couple of vintage things myself.a pair of black tap dance type panties with rhinestones and names like Elvis,Rocky,Tab  etc ~ they are hoot!

I now formally promise my first big sale will go to the Red Cross.

Both of you got that right...but whatever the reasons....it's only getting worse and will continue to do so....