Op-ed: Property theft a rising reality
by Brandon Mayer
I miss living in a time when no one locked their doors. This is something that has always separated country living from a city lifestyle. An unlocked front door. Trust. Safety. Simplicity. Sure, the world has always had criminals, but until recently it felt like there were few enough of them – especially in rural areas – that we had a better chance of being struck by lightning than of being robbed or attacked.
Growing up, I remember that we always locked our doors at night, which made sense to me. It’s an easy action that takes a few seconds and adds peace of mind during sleep. But that was it – the front and back doors were always otherwise unlocked. I had friends in the neighbourhood that would find me in their kitchen petting their dogs after letting myself in through the unlocked door. It’s just the way it was. And it was awesome.
When I first learned to drive – and for some years after – I would leave my car doors unlocked (except at night). I still cling onto that feeling sometimes. If I arrive at home and know that I will be going back out within the next couple of hours, I leave the key in the ignition. I also still do this when I run into Foodland or another local store, if I know I will be quick. In the back of my mind I know it’s a risk, but I just want to hold onto the friendly feeling that in small towns, we respect each other’s property.
Lately, there seems to be a huge number of reports of people being victimized by very bold thefts. The latest example I came across is that some locals who live just outside Winchester left their garage door open and had thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment stolen. But it seems like at least a couple of people each month are posting online in our local area seeking leads or assistance after being victimized by theft. Similarly, the OPP page often releases security camera footage asking for the public’s help in identifying suspected thieves. Neighbours warn of people walking around checking to see if car doors are unlocked – right in people’s driveways! Gas stations in the area are switching to pre-pay only, and for good reason. What scares me is how many people must be willing to steal, if by coincidence the simple act of leaving one’s garage door open or car door unlocked is enough of a risk that a thief will come along and take the bait. It’s as though we have to remember not to leave cheese out with so many rats on the loose.
A childhood friend of mine came from a family where everything was always tightly locked up. Padlocks on sheds, nothing ever left out at night. A security system in the house, motion sensor floodlights, keys never left in anything – not even the lawn tractor. I always got a kick out of how paranoid they seemed compared to my family. But fast forward 15 years and people should start taking notes from them if they don’t want to see their property walk away. That’s sad.
Why all of a sudden is it so hard for people to keep their hands off of other people’s stuff? Are we not raising kids with morals from a young age anymore? It’s not fair to paint everyone with the same brush – I have worked with hundreds of local kids in the last 9 years and can attest that almost none of them would steal. But it’s possible that some kids are slipping through the cracks and growing up to have no respect for others’ property.
The issue could also be the cost of living. A person’s misfortune in no way excuses them to take from others, but times are economically tougher right now than they have ever been, and there are therefore more people who would be motivated to steal to survive. This takes a certain kind of selfish attitude though – depriving someone else to help oneself.
Another possibility is that city criminals clued into the lax lifestyle here in the country, where doors have historically been seldom locked, and started cruising around rural roads and streets looking for easy targets.
The most likely explanation for what’s happening is... a combination of many factors. The worst part is that we are all affected. Even those of us who haven’t personally been victimized by theft (yet?) have to live a very different lifestyle than the one we chose, constantly checking that our car doors are locked and that our belongings are secure before we go to bed, or even during the day! I miss just knowing that since it’s mine, no one is going to touch it.
We can only hope for a return to a tougher approach to crime, and a renewed sense of respect in the world. In the meantime, we should all invest in cameras and locks, and work with our neighbours to catch thieves in the act. It’s time to bring back the popularity of neighbourhood watch and look out for each other. It’s not just about property... it’s about small town pride.