On Monday my wife noticed that a slate we had hanging next to our front door adorned with a pumpkin for fall was missing this morning. It was there on Sunday.
Now I know that at times leading up to Halloween, pumpkins will get smashed and other acts of vandalism are written off as pranks, but in light of some more serious crime we've had in our immediate area I think it is important to report it and I will.
Two homes nearby were nearly broken into. One had the screen cut and the criminals ran once a neighbor spotted them with a flashlight. In the other incident the door was rattled, apparently trying to force it open, and being unsuccessful they fled. Not too long before these incidents, someone rang our bell and when I went outside a neighbor said she heard a loud crash, it was our garage door and that had been unlocked, was opened and then slammed shut and locked. A few weeks before that a neighbors garage did have items stolen from it (which I found out later).
Since I heard of the attempted break-ins, they were both in the very early morning hours, I began to leave our porch light on all night. It may not be much, but its something.
When I called the police today, they did say it is better to report it than to let it go. I was torn last time and most readers seemed to indicate I ought to have called (which I did and then questioned myself leading to the post). The officer I spoke with said oftentimes the items are found in another yard. For me, the more important fact is that the police, council, and mayor have a better understanding of what is happening.
In truth, I'm a bit concerned at this point from the standpoint that in the first six years we lived heere I hadn't once called the police, but now in the seventh year and within the past few months I've done so twice (I didn't report the first one last year).
If there is a crime or mischief act, even one that appears to be a prank, report it. It could be bigger than you think. At the very least the police will have a better gauge of the extent of the problem.
What do you think? Have you experienced incidents over the past couple months? Have you in the past? What do you think can be done? All of the incidents I've related have happened to young families, what happens when it is a senior? Is this an issue, or have I simply had a run of "bad luck"?
2 comments:
Halloween decorations are notorious for being stolen or vandalized in any community, not just Nazareth. We don't even put them out. One thing that I have noticed in the past year or so has to do with the people or person who drives around on the morning of trash day picking out the goodies from people's trash. I've noticed this since the day I moved in in 2002. I have had a few things that I did not intend to be trash "stolen" by these people this summer...three different occasions. I feel that anything within a foot radius of a trash can is fair game...heck, I've picked up a few treasures of my own in this fashion (an old guitar case from the Nazareth music store comes to mind). But these people have been a bit liberal in their interpretation of what is trash and personal property that happens to be sitting near my garage. I've had several pieces of scrap metal (which I recycle myself) stolen as well as two 5 gallon buckets of gravel, and a bucket of mulch.
Palmer Township near the PP Mall: After leaving our screen doors unlocked nearly my entire adolescent life, it does seem the good old days are over.
Earlier this summer my parents house was broken into - with the doors locked and my father sleeping on the family room couch. The thieves broke in and stole my mothers purse, and my fathers wallet and car keys, and luckily didn't touch my dad.
They unlocked the car and rummaged through my moms purse, leaving credit cards and everything other than cash behind (around$300 cash total). They also didn't steal the car — I'd imagine because it would have woke my father.
They reported it, and the Palmer Police wouldn't even try to lift fingerprints from the house or car!
My pop has since bolted down the house pretty securly. But it seems as our Valley grows, this is only going to get worse.
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