Theoretical Question

Let's just talk theoretically here.

Completely hypothetical this situation

A guy needs money to pay some bills. He robs a service station for $N. He also lies to a friend who had lent him money. He ignores his friends. After he pays the bills, he finds himself with some extra cash, so he decide to pay his friend back. About a month later, he has enough money to pay back the $N. He pays it back.

Is he a thief?

 

Well, he stole money at point that wasn't rightfully his, so yes, he is a thief.

 

Absolutely. It's the principle.

 

Yeah, because with all of the title loan and paycheck advanced places now-a-days there is no need to hold up a store.

 

He took something that wasn't his originally = Thief

 

He is still a thief, yeah.

 

Also, not really significant, but having $100 now is more valuable than having $100 in a year. Money inflates, and you can also get interest rates, and it's at your disposal for emergencies/wise investments.

 

Yes he is a thief.

 

If it involves "stole/steal" then yes he is a thief.

 

He did not come to an arrangement with the service station and he did not have their consent to take/borrow the cash until he was in a better financial position so therefore it is theft.

 

completely a thief

 

A thief with morals is what this person appears to be.

 

Legally, strictly speaking, he is criminally a theif still. Tortiously it is debatable.

 

But if he did it again (steal, make, pay back)
What would become of his morals?

O_O

 

In my eyes, it doesn't amount for what amount or what reason - if he robs a service station he is considered a thief.

 

Ok should he be forgiven.

 

I don't think he should be forgiven straight away. If he were caught and issued jail time or a fine etc though I feel it should be reduced considering his acts afterwards.

 

It's situational. If he felt remorse for what he'd done, the amount stolen was small, and he was nonviolent during the commission of his crime, then sure. If, however, he stole a significant amount of money at gunpoint and repaid it only to avoid punishment, he should definitely be incarcerated.

 

Of course because he stole it in the first place. I don't necessarily believe that doing something bad automatically makes you a bad person, depending on what you do of course. People make bad choices in desperate situations. I feel like anyone deserves a second chance as long as they feel remorse for the things they've done and learn from their mistakes. Giving it back would still be a dumb decision though, since he's going to be charged with a felony and end up doing jail time no matter what. I would just forget about it and don't do it again.

 

Yes, he was just a good thief who didn't get caught.