Too cold to steal: Cops in Wisconsin urge criminals to just stay home
GREEN BAY, Wis. – OK, this wind-chill business is getting serious.
It’s one thing when schools start canceling classes and businesses start telling employees and customers to stay home because of record cold in the forecast.
But now the cops are asking criminals to please stay inside.
Yes, you heard that right. Temperatures getting down to minus-double-digits Tuesday night and Wednesday, accompanied by winds of 20 mph or more, were expected to provide wind chill values of between minus 30 and minus 45 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Green Bay.
That prompted the Green Bay police to take “the unprecedented step” of canceling all criminal activities in the city.
More: As historic cold blasts Midwest, cities focus on vulnerable, homeless
More: 250 million in USA will see freezing temperatures
Are we getting soft, or what?
But Police Chief Andrew Smith was adamant.
“With the wind chill warnings, we simply cannot have any criminals putting themselves in harm’s way at those temperatures,” he said. “Avoiding crime and criminal activities is especially important during periods of inclement weather. Also during all other times.”
The department is calling for the suspension of all retail thefts, car thefts – including those with the keys inside – and all violent crimes. Failure to comply with the ban could lead to citations, arrests, or even jail time, Smith said.
Frostbite can occur in such conditions in just minutes, Smith said. “If we didn’t speak out against this, it is simply not fair to the criminals, and I am not willing to risk it.”
Without a similar ban in surrounding communities, many area police agencies were expected to beef up patrols to accommodate the almost certain influx of criminals hoping to get around the Green Bay ban.
Smith says the city's ban will remain in effect until further notice.
Cancellation Notice - Severe Weather Criminal Activity Alert
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE GREEN BAY POLICE DEPARTMENT
SEVERE WEATHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ALERT!
January 29, 2019
Faced with the record breaking cold weather that is fast approaching, the Green Bay Police Department is taking the unprecedented step of cancelling all criminal activities in the City of Green Bay until further notice. Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith was quoted as saying, “With the wind chill warnings, we simply cannot have any criminals putting themselves in harm’s way at those temperatures. If we didn’t speak out against this, it is simply not fair to the criminals, and I am not willing to risk it.”
Forbidden until further official notice are all criminal activities including retail thefts, automobile thefts (including the stealing of cars with the keys inside), and all manner of violent crime. With the ban on all criminal activities, crooks, criminals and miscreants of all kinds are hereby put on notice that failure to comply will result in citations, arrests, or even jail time. This official ban on illegal activities will continue until the official criminal activity ban is rescinded formally by the Police Department. Please monitor our Facebook site for any updates.
“We care about everyone in our community, including those that choose to break the law,” said Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith. “Avoiding crime and criminal activities are especially important during periods of inclement weather. Also, during all other times.”
Temperatures and wind chills are expected to be at least 35 below zero, which can freeze skin and cause frostbite in just a few minutes. With a salute to the Noblesville Police Department.
#WinterIsComing #BringPetsIndoors #ArcticBlast #PolarVortex #ColdJustice
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Too cold to steal: Cops in Wisconsin urge criminals to just stay home
