My mother has a theory about criminals:  They are stupid.

Obviously, if they were smart, or at least clever, they wouldn't get into illegal activities in the first place. The amount of effort required by the criminal mastermind of TV and movie fame far exceeds the minimal amount necessary to live a reasonably productive life within the confines of the legal system. Let's face it:  Your typical criminal is no mastermind.

So the basic criminal is essentially cutting corners in an attempt to go around the perceived legal roadblocks and reach their goal in record time. Unfortunately for them, the obvious short cuts are often well mapped out and known by law enforcement.

There are a couple of examples recently in the local news.  If you are reading this and are planning the perfect crime, let me give you some words of advice:

That hit-man you're talking to is an undercover cop.

That young girl you're flirting with online is an undercover cop.

That new supplier you're dealing with is an undercover cop.

That obviously underage student buying beer or tobacco is working undercover with a cop.

Japanese Steakhouses are really owned by Chinese immigrants. Actually, almost all "oriental" restaurants are owned by Chinese families.  Except Vietnamese restaurants. Those are very likely owned by people from Vietnam. Almost none of these are undercover cops, however.


Now that you know better I don't want to hear of any of you getting into trouble.