Law enforcement cannot be everywhere at the same time, therefore it is incumbent upon citizens to be aware of what is going on around them. People should look out for their neighbors and be vigilant in reporting any suspicious activity. Neighbors should know each other’s routines and notice if something is out of the ordinary.
Many years ago, when I was living in Glenpool, a neighbor down the street had his classic Chevrolet truck, a boat, and a trailer stolen, while another neighbor watched and even waved. The thief managed to start the truck, hook up the boat and trailer and drive off with it in broad daylight. When I asked my neighbor why he’d not done anything, he said he did not think anything was wrong.
We recently had several items stolen from the garage in broad daylight. None of the neighbors saw nor heard anything that afternoon. I posted the theft on social media and one person posted that a man was rolling a toolbox (my toolbox) down a nearby street with items stacked on top. This was a prime example of not reporting something that seemed a little odd. Had this person reported this to the police, we probably could have quickly recovered our stolen property.
There are numerous Neighborhood Watch programs throughout the country. They have proven effective in preventing crime and helping to apprehend criminals. Being aware of what is going on in your neighborhood and reporting anything out of the ordinary is key to keeping our homes, property, and ourselves safe.
The next time you see a car that does not belong in your neighbor’s driveway, or people who look out of place, lurking around a business or a residence, anything that looks out of place—call local law enforcement. Remember, only you can prevent crime.
