All thieves merit a jeer, but some deserve one in bold-face type, because of the stupidity surrounding the crime with which they are charged.

Take the case of Jamie J. Mellish, 31, of East Butler, who is accused of trying to wheel away a 55-inch three-dimensional television set from the Sam's Club store in Butler Township without paying for it.

After being confronted, Mellish allegedly ran from the store, leaving behind the TV in the shopping cart he was using.

But that's not what makes Mellish different. He never factored in getting caught and, if he were caught, his potential for facing more serious charges.

When police caught up with Mellish, who was in a car parked at the Butler Township Wal-Mart store, they found a stamp bag of suspected heroin.

So, instead of facing just a retail theft charge, Mellish also is charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia — more serious offenses.

It was foolish enough for Mellish to try to steal something so large from a business with a good surveillance system — especially when he already was on county probation and state parole. But his brazen attempt to walk out of a store with a big-screen TV then put him at high risk of being arrested on illegal-drug charges at the same time.

It's to be hoped that if he's found guilty, the courts will give him time to consider his multiple mistakes — and help to resist any temptation for a repeat performance.

While it's understandable that Seneca Valley School District officials would see advantages to owning 1.18 acres of land across from the secondary campus for future use, the decision to spend $152,000 to buy the land when the district is operating at a $3 million deficit is questionable.To their credit, three board members — Eric DiTullio, Joseph Scalamogna and James Welsh — recognized the problem and voted against it.Meanwhile, any residents who might choose to question the purchase price for such a small parcel of land would not be out of order, since the price does seem excessive. Because of the district's financial condition, the board should have at least held out for a lower price.This purchase is a local example of elected officials finding it easy to spend other people's money unnecessarily — something that unfortunately goes on much too frequently at the state and federal government levels.DiTullio should be commended for his stance of not voting for any future expenditures that are not immediately necessary, until the district returns to operating in the black. All members of the board should embrace that stance.A sum totaling possibly $158,000 (including up to $6,000 for surveying and engineering) could have been better spent on educational materials.The five board members who approved the purchase — member Eric Gordon was absent — need to re-evaluate their spending priorities.

Some people might think the Buffalo Township supervisors merit a jeer for allowing streetlights to remain on in Sarver when 25 percent of the 94 residences have failed to pay the township for the streetlights, as is required.Because of the non-payments, the fund has a deficit of about $3,500.But rather than a jeer, a cheer can be justified for the supervisors providing an adequate second chance for the delinquents to pay up. The supervisors sent out notices at this time last year about the need for all residents to get current in their payments, which are to be paid to the township tax collector as a separate fee.The fact that so many households ignored that notice justified the supervisors' decision to dissolve the light fund, which was established in 1949, and shut off the lights.The 23 streetlights in question will be shut off Jan. 31.Those who wish to keep their light can make arrangements with Allegheny Power and begin paying the company directly. Meanwhile, the township rightly plans to file liens against the delinquent property owners, some of whom are $400 to $500 in arrears.The residents served by the lights were given an easy way to keep up with their payments, but the delinquents chose to allow others to pay for the convenience and safety assets that they too enjoyed.The supervisors are right in having ended their patience.As for the delinquents, the “light bulb” will go on for them when they are faced with the costs and other inconveniences associated with the collection effort.