Editor's note: The following letter was sent to me some weeks ago by a concerned TAJ resident. Her name and location is being withheld by request. She has been a victim of neighborhood vandals in the past and fears that her complaint might prompt retribution.
"I would like to know what else can be done to prevent the rampant vandalism in our community? Why are children running around the complexes unsupervised? When the kids are out of school for breaks, they get into trouble because they have no accountability at home. Cars and homes have been burglarized repeatedly by kids in our own community. Do we need a stronger police presence during the school breaks, so those of us who work hard to obtain the little luxuries we do have, don’t have to constantly worry about it getting stolen or damaged by these punks. Let’s publicize a list of those kids who have been caught so we all know who to keep an extra close eye on as well as to know who not to let our kids hang out with. I for one am sick and tired of hearing the stories of people loosing their stuff. Don’t the parents question where they got the new stuff or who they are hanging out with and what they do to entertain themselves when their parent’s are at work? Lack of accountability, respect for others and their property, fear of consequences for breaking the law, these need to be instilled in children from a young age and it is quite clear that parents are not doing their job. Let’s do something to stop the vandalism NOW!! Neighborhood crime watch since the police presence doesn’t work. Keep an eye on your kids and know what they do and with whom. Let’s take action!"
Signed, Sick & Tired (Identity withheld by request)
