Do Criminals Read The Paper? Maybe...
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Submitted by ReporterLeslieA... on Mon, 2008-03-24 08:40. |
Here's an interesting question reporters sometimes face: do the stories we write give criminals ideas about easy targets?
A recent example: a couple of weeks ago I wrote about a section of the Bellevue Ranch community that's been abandoned by builders. They've left behind a block of unoccupied houses. Some are only half-built, with only wood framing in place; others are complete, but empty.
The block is a vivid illustration of the impact of the housing slowdown in Merced. When I wrote about it, I discovered -- and so did readers -- that the problem of what to do with half-built subdivisions is a new issue that city officials have never before confronted.
But where some see problems, others see opportunities--apparently, maybe.
A week later, burglars broke into three model homes and three empty (but unsold) homes in the same neighborhood.
They stole $100,000 in home furnishings, according to the police. (I'm wondering who the police called about the thefts, because the phone number for the development's sale office has been disconnected.)
The thieves didn't strike the exact street I named in my story; the crime happened a few blocks away.
But more than one police official told me several officers thought my story had prompted the burglaries.
One commenter on the Sun-Star's web site agreed, writing: "I think it was irresponsible of the Merced Sun-Star to let everyone know that no one was out there."
With the city in a foreclosure crisis, and several subdivisions throughout the county sitting half-built, I've written a lot about empty foreclosed houses, empty model homes and half-built houses, and I'll probably write about a lot more before this slump is over.
Should I have not written the story? Some would say it's irresponsible to not write about the empty houses.
Writing about the empty houses lets the police and city officials know that this is a problem in Merced.
I'd rather have people aware of a problem then ignorant of it, because when people know about a problem, the chances of solving it go up significantly.
Do Criminals read the paper?
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Submitted by knoestlg on Tue, 2008-03-25 19:11.
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Leslie,
There are other ways you can tell city fathers or the police of any place deemed unsafe, blight, troublespot, etc without putting it in print for would be hooligans. Try calling them or email or snail mail or in person, but to put it in print is inviting trouble.
Do you know why we have fire bugs come out to play with matches and burn things down? Because the media invites them to do so: "it's gonna be scorcher today, high fire danger, strong winds, dry conditions, etc. etc." The Media just told and encourage the would be arsonist to go out and burn because the conditions are right for the burn.
The public already know it's hot out there and to be carefull! One does not need to publish the obvious in print or on TV just to fill in air time or print filler. Be responsible in your reporting and always consider your audiences, not your pay check or your boss. 
Jerry K.
Do Crimnals Read the Newspaper
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Submitted by twocents on Mon, 2008-03-24 14:11.
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Leslie, you bet they do and on a regular basis. Just as most people cut out articles and save them for their scrap books from the newspaper, so do criminals. I am a retired police officer and I can not tell you the number of times when we did searches that we found articles related to the crimes these people committed on their bulletin boards or desk tops. As for did your article entice these criminals to target a particular area or home, maybe, maybe not. It does not take an rocket scientist to figure out where the vacant homes are in the community. Most people would think that criminals are uneducated and unable to put together any form of rational thought, yet when you look at there crimes it shows that they have the mental ability to formulate plans and carry them out, so they are not as stupid as everyone thinks.
By the way, I am sure that the city officials and everyone else is aware of the forclosure rates and empty homes in Merced without the Sun Star having to waste valuable space telling them. Have a great day.
They vote too, I suspect
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Submitted by bcwise on Mon, 2008-03-24 10:03.
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I think criminals vote too. Remember the first time Merced tried to pass the extra sales tax for hiring more cops a couple of years ago? If memory serves, the only neighborhood that failed to get the necessary majority to pass the tax was South Merced.
I would have expected residents of the highest crime neighborhood in town to vote yes in larger numbers, since they're the ones most directly affected by crime. I was wrong, and I suspect it was because a lot of the voters were criminals themselves.
Maybe they do!
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Submitted by kev123 on Mon, 2008-03-24 16:21.
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I am a former resident of the south side of Merced and I was one of many who voted against the extra sales tax. No, they do not need more police officers on the south side to harrass the people that are driving home from work or walking home from the store or to come out hours later to complete a report for insurance purposes. Never mind the criminals hanging out on the corners waiting to score, or the kids breaking into someones home (they have plenty of time to do it) I have friends that hated to visit me on this side of town and also drive to work on this side because of the "extra" service from the police here. Dare to cross the double dotted yellow line, or ride in the turn lane too long, their presence is in high numbers there to help you out with a fine.
Had I or any of my law-abiding hard-working friends thought that this measure would have brought forth quicker response time or better service from our local police I am sure it would have passed.
I am sure the criminals on the south side of town could have cared less about the police presence. Maybe on the North side they would have voted no because of the quicker response time, but not over here.
Hurray for the criminals and the insurance companies, its a lost cause in my book.
Syndicate
Do Criminals read the paper?
Do criminals read the paper?......I am very sure Gordon Spencer reads the paper.