Pubdate: Sun, 03 Feb 2008
Source: Sheboygan Press (WI)
Copyright: 2008 Sheboygan Press
Contact: http://www.sheboygan-press.com/contact/forms/editor-letter.shtml
Website: http://www.sheboygan-press.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3993

COMMUNITY EFFORTS CAN CUT CRIME RATE

Although the sharp increase in the number of burglaries  in Sheboygan
can be attributed in large part to three  men committing about 100 of
these crimes, there is  still reason to be concerned.

There were 452 reported burglaries in Sheboygan in  2007, an increase
of 34 percent from the year before,  according to a story in
Wednesday's Sheboygan Press.

It's not only the number of burglaries that should have  Sheboygan
residents concerned, it is the brazenness of  some burglars who break
into homes while people are  sleeping or commit their crimes in broad
daylight.

Sheboygan's burglary rate is going in the opposite  direction of what
is happening nationwide. According to  national statistics from the
FBI burglaries were down  3.7 percent between 2006 and 2007.

Clearly, Sheboygan's rising burglary rate is not good  news for a city
needing to attract new businesses to  boost the local economy. It also
hurts the city's  efforts in the growing tourism industry in this area.

While some would merely blame the crime increase on an  influx of
minorities into the community, this is myopic  reasoning that does
nothing to help solve the problem.

Like other communities of its size, Sheboygan also has  a growing
problem with drugs and gang activity, both of  which likely play a
part in the rise in the burglary  rate. Police will tell you there is
a direct  correlation between burglaries and drug use, since the
burglar often uses the money from his or her crime to  buy drugs.

If Sheboygan is to put up a fight against these crimes,  the people
living here need to become active in the  battle.

The Sheboygan Police Department has recently grown by  six more
officers, but even with an expanded department  cops can't be
everywhere. But concerned and caring  people -- those who have pride
in their community and a  willingness to get involved -- can be
everywhere and  can be an effective tool in crime fighting.

We've already seen success from the Neighbors Against  Drugs effort
that uses public awareness and pressure to  target the places where
drug dealers live and drive  them out of the area.

Neighborhood Pride groups have spring up in the central  part of
Sheboygan where groups of concerned residents  spend time cleaning up
litter and debris to improve the  overall appearance and give the area
a greater sense of  community.

CrimeStoppers is yet another way for people to help  police in
tracking down criminals, by giving police  tips on criminal activity.

Individuals can also take steps to prevent burglaries.  Homeowners can
make their property as uninviting to  burglars as possible. Keeping
shrubbery trimmed back so  a burglar can't use it as a shield while
breaking in or  installing motion-detecting lights, are just some of
the ways to prevent crime. Keeping your eyes and ears  open to
suspicious activity -- and reporting it to  police -- are also
valuable tools in crime prevention.

There is no one factor that causes crime and there is  no single way
to prevent it. But through a concerned  and alert public, aggressive
law enforcement efforts,  forceful prosecution by the district
attorney's office  and harsh sentencing from judges, Sheboygan will be
  less vulnerable to criminals.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath