That was a big fat fail

You have to figure the local law had their hands in the kitty.
I can't recall the name of it, probably a B movie. I never saw it, I was in that area when it all happened.
If any one had caught him in the act of his thieving, he would have been killed on a farm and not on main street.

Fair enough. If they locals were complacent, I wonder what the reason was for letting it go on. Family connections? Family goes a long way in some places...