"crime pays only in tears" would sb help explain this?
The context is a story where there is a prisoner who escapes from prison. someone gets them by playing a trick on them and brings them to police office saying to the sergeant: "Now it's your pleasure to prove that crime pays only in tears".

your help is much appreciated.

Question

"crime pays only in tears" would sb help explain this?
The context is a story where there is a prisoner who escapes from prison. someone gets them by playing a trick on them and brings them to police office saying to the sergeant:  "Now it's your pleasure to prove that crime pays only in tears".

your help is much appreciated.

Answer

The officer means to prove to the criminal that crime will not give the criminal what he wants, but actually the opposite.  Instead of getting money by stealing, he will go to jail and lose the money.  He will be sad that he is in jail, causing "tears".  Therefore, by stealing money, in the end he only gains tears.  So crime "pays" in tears.

Answer

"crime pays only in tears" = the sole outcome of crime is upset/sadness. There is no other benefit that comes from crime.