Get Your Own: Thievery Around Longview

By Britton Baker

We all feel the effects of the decrease in jobs around our community and the low income of money, but some people feel it more than others.

Thievery around Longview is hitting people’s lives hard as well.

In 2008, according to the Longview Police Department, vehicle break-ins went down 21% and all other burglaries went down 35% compared to 2007.

Statistics are not yet out for the 2009-10, year but they are expected to rise due to the economic downfall.

All around, you hear family and friends talking more and more about bags being stolen from locker rooms to personal vehicles having windows smashed out and being rummaged through.

Recently, my own truck was broken into by someone who broke a window and stole over $5000 worth of belongings.

I could care less about my iPod and other electronics being stolen, but they also took a custom knee brace and school work that I need and use everyday.

Why must someone feel the need to damage others property and take personal items? People can’t have enough pride to let others keep their goods that they worked for.

I owned an iPod. I didn’t steal it from the store or take from a friend; I bought it with the money I earned.

No one can answer the question of why people do what they do. Some people have that horrible nature and can’t keep their hands off other people’s stuff.

“I have had my iPod and money stolen out of my locker,” Whitley Hamilton 12 said.

She stated later that most likely the thieves are going to sell it for drug money but she doesn’t get why they just can’t get a job and make that money.

“I can’t imagine if someone was to break into my house and steal everything. I think I would have an emotional break down,” Sophie Kangas 11 said.

Sometimes the first thing that comes to people’s minds is someone wants to ruin their life. This is partially true; the thieves are taking  possessions that sometimes are hard to replace and have personal value.

I think that most people are frustrated that thieves are so inconsiderate and don’t have a heart to realize what they are ruining or that they might ruin someone’s life.

Go work for yourself, earn your own money, and spend it how you choose.