Crime Does Pay

But it only pays for the few;
the documentary makers
who work in radio and television 
whose work fills the broadcasting schedules
with the narrative depictions of those
for whom crime did not pay, the criminals.

After watching many of these series
the plots get disturbingly familiar.
Step one an observant member of the public
spots weak security in the transfer
of huge amounts of money
and sets out to make a plan that exploits
the weakness that they recognise.

The planner does not know it
but the weakness in his system
will be who he compromises over
when choosing his gang members.
Every gang has it's weakest member,
the person makes simple mistakes
after the robbery seemed to be a success.

That the police and FBI rely
on mistakes made after the robbery
and rarely recover all the money stolen
and the criminals lose it too
is the cliche turned truism
that the viewer can rely upon
to complete the story.