It happens everywhere. Why should the police spend hours of their time building a case to present to a DA if the end result is always probation or time served?
“...if the end result is always probation or time served?”
Might be that by putting him in jail it might help him. The story here implies he’s a thief. Maybe he’s mentally ill. Turning him loose could erase a source of treatment and maybe protection if for even from himself.
wy69