A Moral Dilemma

[lakotak]

I have a moral dilemma that that perhaps your thoughts can help me resolve.

The story is a woman across the street had some one that was homeless helping her and she let him stay in the vacant house for awhile. At some point, she said he stole a ladder to probably sell, and she found him in a bar and confronted him about it. She was put out of the bar because of her behavior. She refused to let him stay in the house again.This particular landlord is relentless in her pursuits of people who she thinks or does offend her. I do not want to be involved with her at all.

The problem.

I witnessed, I think on News Years Day, this homeless person take down the outside light and try to pull the wires from inside the house out. At first, I thought he was just looking at the light, maybe to try to fix it. I thought maybe she and him and reconciled about their differences. However, as I watched him I soon discovered that he was trying to destroy the light. Also, he apparently broke the basement window. But I did not see this. He was drunk that day. He also stole a flag from a house in the next block

I did not report it because I did not want to be involved with her. Also, I did not and do not want to have him come and break out my windows if I tell her I saw this. She will notify the police and with this person, I will have to go to court to tell what I witnessed. More important than not wanting to be involved with her is the fact that I don’t want him to try and seek revenge on me and put a brick through my window.

What are your thoughts on how I should handle this. Any advise will be appreciated.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Can you report it to the police anonymously?

 

[lakotak]

Can you report it to the police anonymously?

No, if I report it now, she will know who is reporting it, press charges and they will pick him up and I will end up in court. I would like to do this, but I live across the street from the house. This guy is vindictive, and I just don’t want to have to have a window replaced or worse because he is angry that I reported him. I am not crazy about her, but it is basically because of revenge. Since a number of people were killed in an arson fire a few years ago, I think 5 or 6, parents and children, because the mother reported drug activity and I think went to court, people have become very hesitant to report incidents including me.

 

[dmar198]

No, if I report it now, she will know who is reporting it, press charges and they will pick him up and I will end up in court. I would like to do this, but I live across the street from the house. This guy is vindictive, and I just don’t want to have to have a window replaced or worse because he is angry that I reported him. I am not crazy about her, but it is basically because of revenge. Since a number of people were killed in an arson fire a few years ago, I think 5 or 6, parents and children, because the mother reported drug activity and I think went to court, people have become very hesitant to report incidents including me.

Report it anonymously and you can’t be taken to court or otherwise become involved without your consent. And if you are that worried about it, you could ask how to put yourself in the witness protection program.

 

[MPat]

No, if I report it now, she will know who is reporting it, press charges and they will pick him up and I will end up in court. I would like to do this, but I live across the street from the house. This guy is vindictive, and I just don’t want to have to have a window replaced or worse because he is angry that I reported him. I am not crazy about her, but it is basically because of revenge. Since a number of people were killed in an arson fire a few years ago, I think 5 or 6, parents and children, because the mother reported drug activity and I think went to court, people have become very hesitant to report incidents including me.

Are you sure no one else could possibly know? For example, is it plausible that the man in question has bragged about his “work” to someone - while drunk? Maybe someone could have overheard it? In such case a note giving the part of information that could be expected to be learned in such way (with an explanation that the sender wants to stay anonymous because of fears that the same man might take revenge again) and some other precautions might avoid giving away the sender’s identity while still being somewhat helpful to the police. And, speaking of morality, it should be possible to avoid lying while doing so.