Mike Moser "I Say" Published May 13, 2005

It is a crime what we do

Most Cumberland Countians are accomplices in criminal acts. A large number will assist in the commission of property crimes this year. Most of these acts will be committed unknowingly or unintentionally.

If readers think that statistics of crimes against property are outrageously high for our community, they only have themselves and/or their neighbors to blame. We open the door of opportunity to thieves.

That was the recent message Scott Teeter, associate professor and director of the criminal justice program at Roane State Community College, delivered to the Breakfast Rotary Club.

If you don't believe this, on any given week take a look at the long list of burglary and theft incidents reported to the Crossville Police and Cumberland County Sheriff's Department.
Motive exists. Easy money, quick turnover for cash, the need to fund drug habits.

It is the opportunity that we are all responsible for.

Look how many residential burglaries take place at homes where outside doors are left unlocked. Look at how many storage sheds that are scenes of burglary and theft don't even have a lock.

Read about how many thefts take place in carports or in yards where property is left unattended and lying around.

The pet peeve for me are the number of people who leave their vehicles containing CD cases full of CDs, checkbooks, purses, cameras, cell phones and other valuable items in unlocked cars and trucks.

It is bad enough that thieves will break into a vehicle. But do we really need to leave our checkbooks lying on the seat or in the glove box so that we can be victimized twice?

"People have to understand they have to be involved," said Teeter. "Citizens need to make a conscientious effort to hide drugs and weapons and cash and make sure their homes are secure."

When protecting one's home there are simple things that can be done to help either prevent or lesson the victimization.

"Do anything that will create a doubt in the thief's mind as to whether anyone is home or not," Teeter said. Leave a radio or television playing, leave a light on or have lights on a timer, stop mail and paper delivery and notify only someone you trust.

Dogs can be a deterrent.

It is not reasonable to expect around 50 law enforcement officers in a county of 55,000 to keep all of us and our property safe. So it is incumbent for us to do little things that can and do make a difference.

And the greatest thing we can do is use some common sense like putting valuables out of view, stop leaving purses unattended in shopping carts, stop leaving car doors unlocked and quit leaving items easily carted off lying around the yard and carport.

The last tip that Teeter gave the club was for members to properly mark identification numbers on their valuables - preferably their driver's license number. Also, video tape valuables, collectibles or items of personal value so these things are properly recorded and can easily be identified if they are stolen and later recovered.

And store copies of pictures or tapes somewhere outside the home.

We won't stop thieves, but it would give me pleasure knowing we are making it harder for them to get our valuables.

· · ·
Mike Moser is the editor of the Crossville Chronicle. His column is published periodically on Fridays.