HARRISBURG—Yesterday we were notified that there had been a series of burglaries and car break-ins occurring in the areas between Lincoln and Raymond streets these past few days in Harrisburg.
Victims were the ones to come forward and tell us this has been an ongoing problem; there’s been no word about this sudden surge of crime from authorities, the ones you would expect to hear it from.
We first learned of these happenings yesterday (Saturday, July 13, 2013), with reports indicating that they’d been going on for at least the previous four days.
Then today (Sunday, July 14, 2013), we learn of this posting by a gentleman on Raymond Street, Eric Hess:
It appears Mr. Hess has a strong suspicion of who managed to break into his place…and that it saddens him. We’ve got to hope that Hess made a police report…as did the others who were experiencing break-ins or car burglaries.
The problem is, it seems Harrisburg police—SOME, not all—don’t pay a lot of attention to this kind of thing.
After the threats leveled by former mayor Eric Gregg a couple of weeks ago against us and “anyone who associates” with us, one of our vendors experienced damage to a door of one of his buildings. We asked if it was reported; the answer was “Why? They won’t do anything anyway. I’ve reported vandalism before and nothing was ever done, even though the same kids were out doing it to other buildings just a few days later.”
This is what promotes the kind of lax attitude some police departments are plagued with. It may start with a disinterested cop or two, who tells the victim “there’s not a lot we can do.” But it’s perpetuated when the victim himself gets disinterested in pursuing it. He tells others, and then when they’re victimized, they ”don’t report it” either because “the cops won’t do anything.” And the vandals/thieves/burglars/miscreants have the run of the place. And that lax attitude by the cops spreads, just like the helpless feeling amongst victims does….until nobody does anything except ignore it and become victims. You wonder why there are certain neighborhoods in Harrisburg that are by and large unsafe. This is why.
There are some neighborhoods, however, who’ve started up watch groups, and have tried to offset this. They also don’t let it stop with one errant cop who refuses to take a report. At that point, you take it to the chief (who also by and large won’t do anything…but don’t let that stop you.) At that point, you take it to the city council and the mayor. And if that doesn’t get anything done, you take it farther…you petition for a referendum on the next ballot to get rid of someone (like the useless police chief), or put a new ordinance in effect that will impact positively what’s going on in your neighborhood, etc. There are remedies. You just have to get creative.
Whatever you do, never neglect to report it. And if you’re not seeing anything on the media about the break-ins, go to them. Doesn’t matter which media. For some reason, today’s cops don’t want to let people know when crime is going on in their town; in some places it’s an “appearance” thing or even a “tourism” thing, and they don’t want to report anything negative to the general public. But that’s exactly the opposite that needs to be happening. When there’s a crime series going on, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW. They can take extra precautions, watch out for unusual activity in the neighborhood, keep an eye out for others living next door. Why wouldn’t the cops want that kind of vigilance? We don’t know the answer to that…but we see it repeatedly, especially in places like Lawrenceville, and Harrisburg.
So let us know if it continues, ‘burg residents. There IS something you can do. These are but a few suggestions. Let us know if you come up with something equally as workable.