ROBBED!

[frankenfish]

Went fishing with a friend early this AM on the Clackamas at McGiver Park. Came up at 10AM. My car window was smashed in, as was the window of a truck parked next to us. A full report has been made with the police. Stolen items were.

1. A LOADED S&W 44 MAGNUM LIGHT ALLOY 4" BARREL !!!!
2. My wallet, with drivers license, credit cards, etc.
3. Lots of fishing gear.
4. My medical bag.
5. Some lab reports of patients.
6. Palm pilot.

I feel most upset about the gun. Due to my stupidity, a criminal now has the means to hurt other people. Please let everyone you know about this in case the thief tries to sell it. Also, if you happen to be near a pawn shop or gun dealer, please let them know. If anyone hears of someone trying to sell the 44, please call the State Police. I don't care about the cost of the gun, it's the danger it represents in the hands of a criminal that bothers me. Also, if someone has inadvertently bought it, please feel free to keep it, but please let the police know who you got it from so the SOB can be caught. Thanks, all, and good fishing.

Frank

[willierower]

What you guys need to do is bait the damn thieves with an unlocked car at a place that gets hit alot. Sit in the brush with a video cam and wait. When someone starts messing around tape them.

Ive done it before, And they guy went to jail.

[Wood N' Fish]

Why, in the name, did you leave a pistol in your truck?

[GOT2FISH]

I hate to here that it always worries me. Sorry for your loss hopfully you have more for a back-up and hopfully these punks [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] will befound Maybe willierower has a good ideal bait them and have a vidio tapping.

[Rakkasan]

As the saying goes....if there is nothing to steal it will not get stolen.

[seabass]

I hear of thefts way too often on the Clack. My brothers each lost a couple of spare reels from the back of their car while fishing there. I have always thought of parking and sitting in the brush and catching these <petunias>. My only problem is that I would catch one, beat the <petunia> out of them and get sued or sent to jail. But what a great feeling I would have before I got in trouble. I would love to be a cop but would probably be fired as soon as someone with a video camera saw me catch a thief. If somebody would volunteer to restrain me, I would volunteer to watch for these <petunias>, and as gingerly as possible take them to the police.

[ 02-06-2004, 10:01 PM: Message edited by: STGRule ]

[Bait Bucket]

I'm really bummed out about this post. I live five minutes from there and I walk my dog there almost every morning. But not today. I never lock my vehicle there. I guess that will all change.

[snit]

Hey Woodfish, because he can (at least in Washington, not sure of Oregon)! Ease up on the guy! He feels terrible already that some creap ripped him off...plus he's more sorry about the gun (like he said). In Washington (I know, not where the crime happened) it's legal to have a gun in a car. Alot of people do.

[Fishen Fool]

I can think of something in the bush better than a video camera!!

[Rakkasan]

You can have a gun in your vehicle in Oregon, however if it is concealed you either have to have a concealed permit or without a prmit be traveling be traveling to and from a fishing or hunting trip.

[ 02-06-2004, 10:20 PM: Message edited by: DSRods ]

[Gus Orviston]

I think if you don't have a CWP it must be out of reach, locked and unloaded. Something like a 3 step rule if I recall correctly.

gus

[mophile]

These theft posts are really starting to get to me. I have not been on the board too long, but one of the posts I remember clearly is the one about the guy who recently got his stuff stolen at Bonnie Lure. Every time I go fishing now, I practically run the last bit back to my vehicle, expecting to see glass on the ground! Not just me either. I was talking to a buddy on his cell phone yesterday as he was walking back to HIS car (we had not discussed the theft thing). As he got closer, he said "Ok....no glass on the ground...good thing!". Had not really given it that much thought before, as I hide all valuables, lock what I leave in my locking glove box and have an expensive alarm...all of which is useless if no one is near the vehicle. *sigh*

[andy-ap emerger]

So sorry to hear about that.
That has happened to my truck (3 days old) at the Glisan boat launch on NE Marine Dr. Fortunately, he only got away with my Great Grandfaters (RIP) wool gloves. I ALWAYS keep my weapon with me any time I fish. Keep the truck EMPTY. Leave a note on the dash that clearly says "nothing of value EXCEPT pistol, and I have it with me." It has worked ever since.
BTW, 2 nights ago someone stole the trailer hitch off of my truck!!! Now, what in the heck can I do about that??? Geeeez.

That <passes> me off big time. I feel for you brother. I'll definitely keep an eye out for you.


AP [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

[wts]

Ya gotta love andy-ap emerger’s solution –

Keep the truck empty & leave a note on the dash that clearly says "nothing of value EXCEPT pistol, and I have it with me."

As for trailer hitches, I’m pretty sure you can get coupling pins with locks at places that deal in trailer hardware and maybe GI Joe’s. Just be sure to keep the key with the rig’s key so’s ya don’t lose it.

WT

[ 02-07-2004, 03:24 AM: Message edited by: wts ]

[FishinMission]

I think a note on the windshield that says..."nothing of value except a pistol, I have it with me and I'm watching you right now"...might be just a tad better. :whazzup:

Mark

[Bait O' Eggs]

Since the gun was loaded we at least have a chance that the perp will shoot himself :grin:

[gottafish]

If you leave the door unlocked you would be suprized at how they will pass up your car. I watched a guy at marmont dam look in my truck and then opened the door and then shut it. went to the next truck and tried to open it (locked) then he smashed the passenger window grabbed something and jumped into a blue honda I happin to get the plate and called the cops. I never herd if they got him or not but I had a benneli Nova behind the seat (cased) he never even looked. just a thought.

[cphatts]

Sorry to hear about that Frankenfish.

I would let the park service people at McIver know about this. There was a rash of break-ins there last fall, and the park folks seemed to step up their patrols.

[frankenfish]

Why the gun in the car? I was planning on going target shooting on Saturday. I was on call (I'm a doctor) for the past week and had spent the week in my motor home in the hospital parking lot. I did not want to leave the gun in the motor home. I usually do not have a gun in my car. WHILE DRIVING, it is in the back, but I threw it under the seat while parked. I was going to keep it on me but that is not permitted at McGiver.

[Boat Monkey]

Best of luck getting your possesions back... People who break into vehicles tend to do many other stupid things as well so there is actually a fairly good chance you may get some of your gear back--hopefully before something bad happens.

Watch Ebay and the local pawn shops for your stuff, like I said, they usually are not that clever and are looking for money fast. My friend found his gear within 24 hours on Ebay.

[BigFishFever]

ah man, that stinks.

Hope all works out, and you get your stuff back and the thieves who stole your stuff get the full punishment.

[Mad Mikey]

As soon as I saw the topic I thought "Clack". There is a group os us that keeps getting larger with respect to getting broken in on the Clack.
I got hit at Feldheimer, know guys who have been hit at McIver and Barton.
I don't keep anything of value in my truck anymore and ALL my registration info and anything with addresses or pertinent info to me or even bank reciepts are hidden very well. Sometimes I just leave it unlocked, that power window I had to replace was $360!!!
Were you at the lower area or near the Dog Cr. area???
Sorry for your loss, been there down that.

[Grantspastor]

[frankenfish]

I was in the upper lot, where you can hike down to the dam.

[blakestar]

sounds like you have learned your lesson about leaving to much stuff in your car. I've fished around here for a long time and have been broken into several times. Take it from me, it will unfortunately happen again.

[jaydee]

Originally posted by Bait O' Eggs:
Since the gun was loaded we at least have a chance that the perp will shoot himself :grin:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">:grin: :grin: [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Thieven &lt;edited&gt; got some stuff of mine too. No firearms, but I hope they get caught, and prosecuted! Lots of fishin' gear lost, but at least I got my car back.

J.D.

[ 02-08-2004, 09:02 AM: Message edited by: Pete ]

[JPSFISHY]

My heart aches to here of more problems like this. I've got it 3 times already on the Clack. 2x at Feilheimers, and 1x at Carver. I now pull my coil wire so it might at least slow them down from stealing my truck. I welded my ball on, and have double nutted a reciever "bolt" grade 8, and tack welded the end. I no longer pack a tool box in the back, or any parts. "NO FIREARMS" left in the vehicle for sure. Mr Colt stays with me. I pray to GOD I never have to pull it.
I'm even more sensitive to this subject after going to work at the store on 82nd Drive.. Felony Flats.. I could tell ya some whoppers.. Some funny, most not.
These posts are VERY important!!! We all need to watch each others backs. Write down lic #'s when you see someone that doesn't "belong". Make yourself seen, make a statement, fake a cell phone call, get out and fake writing down a Lic plate #. I've done it. Watch the look on there faces.... It's really funny. It doesn't stop anything in the long term, but it sure slows it down.
I'm always open for suggestions, and willing to help in this area.
Maybe we need to organize our own Clack Patrol Watch. BBQ's Monthly. I know someone that can BBQ.ha
JP Jimmy's Steelhead Service

[drbfish]

I feel your pain! I got hit this summer at McIver. I lost about 1200 bucks of fly fishing gear, digital camera, CDs, etc. It seems to be so bad that the county and the park needs to do something about it. It is BS that the cops dont care. I know that they can not watch every car on the river but they should drive through the park as it is such a hot spot for break ins.

[Kruechief]

Frakenfish,

Didn't you just flip a pontoon in January and lose an inordinate amount of gear? :whazzup: There was like a GPS and other high dollar stuff.

Seems like you keep the local sporting goods businesses operating.

Sorry for your loss. I hope it was all covered under a home owner's policy or other.

Krue

[PayDay]

Identity theft is the toughest thing to deal with these days because the bad guys have become very good at getting at your private information and keep recirculating your info for months or years. Not only don't leave any valuables in your rig, but don't leave anything that has to do with credit accounts, identification, paycheck stubs, bank receipts, etc.
My bro' in law lives on Kauai where car break ins happen alot (not too many car thieves on the island...where would they go?). His theory is leave his car unlocked with nothing of value in it and he's never had to replace a broken window.

[hawgcatcher]

Wonder if these thefts will increase when the police are cut back and too many calls to go on simple thefts? I think instead of simply reporting them, send a letter to your state rep. and the govenor. If we fill their mail boxes and tell them we want action to stop this, and if something doesn't happen to stop them, we will vote each and every one out. They like to be told that they need to get our cops back up to full staff.

[fineline]

With all the hidden camera's being used today, it doesn't seem too far out in left field that perhaps portable surveillance cameras could be put to work by the park rangers or county law enforcement agencies where these crimes are most common. What would that cost? If the vehicle looks empty, odds are they won't touch it.

[frankenfish]

Kruechief,

Yes, that was me. I must have done something wrong in a past life. In this one, I'm just stupid!!!

Frank

[Reel Premier]

ff.

I hate to hear of unfortunate incidents like the one you were part of at Mciver. I wish slime like those people didn't exsist. It stinks that you can't even go fishing, in a state park mind you, without having to worry about your car being broken into. It seems like this is becoming an epidemic in all of our fishing holes.

[Leatherneck]

I feel your pain. Several years ago I got a few rods and reels along with my steelhead vest ripped off at fish creek campground. I thought I had hid my gear well enough that no scumbag meth head would find it. Came back from jet skiing and it was all gone. Broke my heart. This was my first of several experiences of getting ripped off in the Mt Hood National Forest. Unfortunetly, even if the cops do catch these tweekers these guys will only spend 5 or 6 hours in jail and there out. The cops are citing these crooks which means that they are getting mug/prints. Once the crook comes back clear on the mug and prints see ya later. Even if the cops book the crook more than likely the crook is going to get recoged unless the crook has a history of not making his court dates.

[whatugetemon]

I too have been ripped off. I fish both the Sandy and Clackamas, but I was hit on the Sandy at Dabney. It was the third time for me, but the first on the river. I hope we find a way to prevent these crimes. Even if the offenders are caught and convicted, the chance of them being actually punished is slim to none, but the chance of them offending again is 100%. After I was hit, I considered the videotape idea, but questioned if it would even do any good.

As far as the pawnshops go, they should be suspicious of anyone bringing in fishing gear. I’ve known fisherman to sell gear at garage sales, in the classifieds, even on the Internet, but never to a pawnshop. Not that it can't happen, but if I was running the place I might raise an eyebrow or two.

[Abalone]

I recently had a conversation with a person at Sportsmans Warehouse. We talked about the break ins and why I don't drift anymore. This person told me he had witnessed a break in at
Boonie Lure. What shocked me is that he made no attempt to record the liscense number of the vehicle or report it to the police. It is very important to report these crimes and especially if you have any kind of ID. If it isn't reported than it isn't going to get investigated. He described these guys as young punks of the Drug snorting variety. They were in a small car busting in to various Vehicles. I don't know this guy and he was only a costumer but I was P.O.d about his attitude.
Report anything. Maybe after time the county can put someone on it. The Clackamas County Sherrifs department is really good but if they don't hear the report there is little they can do.

Sorry to hear you got robbed. That really sucks. I hate to leave my rig anywhere anymore.

[Lundman]

Creative Punishment - A good deterrant?

Why can't the judges make these scum lovers show their true colors.

Make them have a BIG sign that says "I'M A THEIF" and make them go parade in front of a very high traffic area in their neighborhood for a couple of days.

Cost to Tax-Payers - Nothing
Cost to Thieves - the sign & much humiliation...

Make these low-lifes pay something...

[Abalone]

Bleeding hearts that's why.
I think politicians should put " Victim " of a crime on their list of attributes when they run for office.
I think politicians that have been victims of robbery, Violance, or what ever would make good canidates. Someone that understands how it is out there.

No doubt many of them are but they should include it.

[Pilar]

The police are not interested in the slightest in prosecuting property crimes.

They would much rather circle SE Portland for endless hours at low altitude in the infrared camera equipped cessna and spot marijuana grow houses. This is very profitable as the police can then confiscate the property at those houses and dispose of it without due process or the little technicality of innocent until proven guilty and with the proceeds funding their further activities. Many of these same legal loopholes are being used to prosecute and imprison 'Terrorists' thanks to the panic legislation that was passed after 9/11. The Patriot act is a power grab, pure and simple.

Cranksters have no property and prosecuting them is not profitable. Look for this problem to grow much worse as it continues to be ignored.

Maybe thief needs to replace Crab Fisher in Alaska and/or tree feller as the most hazardous occupation. You know the authorities would be very interested if some of the cranksters started to suffer some workplace related injuries and deaths.

For sure the authorities need to get back to "Protect and Serve" as their mission.

If you videotape these clowns robbing cars make sure you do not record sound. I was advised by the Multnomah County DA, Terry Shrunk not to sound record anyone without their written permission. They could sue you if you do or the tape could be not allowed as evidence in a criminal proceeding.

Sorry for your loss, join the thousands who have already traded their valuables and peace of mind for a $5 bag of methamphetamine.

And the war on drugs continues ...........

[raider6]

hey pilar.....&lt;lets be resonable&gt;;let legalize it all Meth , coke, marijuana, heoin,LSD, PCP.......we'll sell it at the local 7-11...in bulk ....drive the prices down so a baggy of meth cost 50 cents. Screw all the other problems associated with drug use. Wait even better let's let METH COOK dump thier wast in the RIVERs HECK they all lead to the ocean....it'll be diluted before it hits the pacific.


&lt;Heck&gt;....let's put a cop on every corner....or in this case every boat launch..so they can watch for car prowlers..lets grant them the power to sieze and search every person that looks at you rig. ooh how about this.....let's grant search warrants based on a person writing down 6 or 7 license plates.....oh boy lets search house based on that info....if we find your stuff great....if we don't oh well.

oh better yet.....let's allow people to use deadly force to protect property.....yes sir....take my stereo and I'll shoot you.

&lt;edited&gt;

Bottom line.... don't make it easy for crooks ...take your valuables with you....even the gun. if you can't move it then hide it the best you can.

the reality is this as I write this rant.... several hundred people have lost property to criminals. solving a crime like this is like triage.....if it is solvable.... witnesses, prints, etc...then there is a chance of catching the crook. if not then you move on to next crime.

&lt;I'm yelling back, mind reading the AUP?&gt;

[ 02-09-2004, 08:37 PM: Message edited by: STGRule ]

[Woody]

DOES this argument sound MORONIC

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">yep

[ 02-09-2004, 02:17 PM: Message edited by: Woody ]

[raider6]

i'm glad someone agrees

[Abalone]

My cousin had went to the Clackamas a couple of years ago to go fishing. While he launched his boat a guy all dressed up in a fishing vest came up and talked to him. My cousin thought the guy was wierd but didn't give it another thought. He went up the Clack to monkey rock and caught a nice springer. When he came back to the boat ramp to go home his truck and trailer were gone.
A month later they found the Ford pickup at Suavies Island with no Tires and the trailer was gone.
He is sure the guy that came up to talk to him was the thief.

This stuff is happening all the time so why don't we here about it ? My Dad was a retired police officer and he used to go to the county and get his Property taxes reduced on the Basis that Crime in our area is high and why should he pay taxes for police protection when there isn't any.

It worked. You get ripped off use it at the County tax apprasers office. We pay taxes for police protection, so why aren't we getting it ? The crime rate it way too high.

Of course voting down tax measures don't help.

[Woody]

Perhaps you misunderstood raider6. I'm behind Pilar 100%. I too have been ripped off and I'm fed up. Time to look after #1. Thieves deserve no mercy. The first thing a thief is going to find at my house is two very protective Dobermans. The second (if they make it that far), is me. I won't use a gun either.

[Pilar]

Raider6, I am not advocating the legalization of drugs. Yell if you want to, it does not change the failure of our criminal justice system. I am merely pointing out that our priorities as a society are all wrong. The police do the best they can but cannot get a property criminal convicted or incarcerated. Therefore they do not bother to arrest or pursue them.

There is no room in the prison system for such minor offenders. We reserve some 60% of that space for DRUG CRIMINALS.

The war on drugs is an abject failure. This war has been going on longer than the cold war and we still have not made any progress other than to drive up the price, thereby encouraging the illegal activity and institutionalizing major breaches of yours and my civil rights. It's time to own up to that and try something different. The manufacture and use of Methamphetamine is a major problem in this state. People who use Methamphetamine are a major part of the crowd that goes around busting into cars and homes and violating your right to own property.

Get rid of the cranksters and you will solve this problem. If you do not believe what I am saying come and hang out in my neighborhood for a while. They are everywhere between 10 pm and 6 am.

[raider6]

crimes high cause the soft on crime folks keep lettinghte crooks out. did you know that in washington you basically have to be CONVICTED of stealing a car an average of SEVEN time before you actually do ANY PRISON TIME and you get a third of your sentence reduced. so let's get off this &lt;petunia&gt; the COPS bandwagon.....and actually rattle the cages of people that actually make the laws and prosecute them. not the dude taking the paper on his/her fifth, sixth or even tenth car prowl of the morning.

[ 02-09-2004, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: STGRule ]

[Abalone]

Has anyone here in fact had an incident involving this kind of crime and had the police involved ?
What happened ? What is the experience you have had with this ?
Police didn't come out ? Didn't make an arrest ? What ?

My experience with Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies has been very positive.

What's your's.

My boat gas can got stolen once. I called the Sheriff and with in an hour they had these guys arrested.
Got my Gas tank back taboot.

All I had to do is describe the Vehicle and they got the job done.

A lot of times these punks are on a Raid. They not only break in to cars but they are commiting
Burglaries also. It may be that if you call it in right away it will alert police where these guys are working. The police don't ignore calls unless they are on something of a higher priority. The guy that broke into your car may have been the same ones that broke into someones house.

[ 02-09-2004, 03:01 PM: Message edited by: Abalone ]

[raider6]

correct...abalone [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] thanks for reconizing that all cops aren't donut munchin,paper reading coffee swilling pigs.....oops did i say that out loud.

[raider6]

The war on drugs is an abject failure. This war has been going on longer than the cold war and we still have not made any progress other than to drive up the price, thereby encouraging the illegal activity and institutionalizing major breaches of yours and my civil rights. It's time to own up to that and try something different. The manufacture and use of Methamphetamine is a major problem in this state. People who use Methamphetamine are a major part of the crowd that goes around busting into cars and homes and violating your right to own property.
Get rid of the cranksters and you will solve this problem. If you do not believe what I am saying come and hang out in my neighborhood for a while. They are everywhere between 10 pm and 6 am.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">your reasoning does not make any sense. how do we get rid of cranksters if we don't ENFORCE drug laws. you said it yourself METH maggots, heroin junkies, and crackheads make up a LARGE percent of people stealing property......so using your logic if WE enforce the drug law to put these people in jail where 60% of the space is reserved for the drug criminal then we take teh people who are breaking into cars, boats house etc....off the street ....then crime goes down. MMMMM

WHAT is your SOLUTION....it sounds like LEGALIZE IT....make it at governemnt factories, sell it at the 7-11 and drive the the price down so that the dopers can get it at 50 cents a gram verses $60. everbody get high.....it becomes mainstream, kids are doing like beer at parties (cause for some parents it okay if your 15 year old kid drinks booze at his buddies house at 1am)....it social acceptable so crankster can hold up they little cardboards signs that say "Need money for Meth".

[Pilar]

Abalone, to answer your question I have had a similar experience. My house was burglarized one morning last fall. I chased the perps and blew my achilles tendon while doing so. I identified the burglars during the pursuit and the police came when I called 911 but they did nothing. I knew who broke in had phone numbers, addresses and descriptions. It made no difference to them. Even a video tape of the crime would probably not been enough for prosecution and conviction. The officer said that they could have made an arrest if they had witnessed the crime.

They would not take fingerprints (obvious on the glass back door), contact the parents of the two teenagers involved or take any other action. The guy just looked around my place and said yep they broke in through the back door.

I was told by the responding officer that it would be a shame if one or both of the burglars were seen to be armed and threatening my life while in my house and really would be a shame if they got shot by the person whose life was threatened. Other than that he offered no solution.

As for you Raider6, do not put words into my mouth. I am not advocating legalization of drugs. It is clear that the current policy is not working if the aim is assumed to be minimizing the effects of illegal drug use on society. This policy must become more than rhetoric and mandatory sentences to actually curb illegal drug use.

When the police advise citizens to shoot burglars, clearly something is pretty screwed up. Maybe we could do something like close our borders, treat drug addicts for addiction and tell people the truth about drugs, addiction and the law. That would be a start. We haven't gone very far from the movie 'Reefer Madness' (70 years ago) and Nancy Reagan's 'Just say no' (20 years ago) campaign.

Before anything positive can happen the authorities have to lose the denial mentality. How ironic that denial is the root of addiction and is also the problem with those that are purportedly trying to deal with it in our society.

BTW the jails already have about 60% capacity used up by drug criminals.

[ 02-09-2004, 04:30 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[LQQKASTAR]

Wow all very sad stories,my freind had his car broke into in portland they stole a laptop, GPS
& some misc. stuff. he hit the pawn shops, he never found his laptop but he did find his GPS and the police were called, upon turning on his GPS they realized the theives turned it on a couple of blocks away but lacked the smarts to
"press and hold" to turn it off,they were able track them to their front door from the auto plot program....last i heard no arrest were made

LQQKASTAR

[raider6]

Pilar,

you have never ANSWERED the QUESTION.....WHAT IS YOUR SOLUTION? you say get rid of the crankster but in the same breath you say our drug control policy is a failure.....pick position and stick with it....HOW do you propse to get rid of the cranksters? it is the third time i have asked this question.

what really bothers me is that you bad mouth cops and say they all don't do their jobs and are all money oriented....YOU say that IF they got rid OF DRUG USING CRIMINAL who victimize people and their property then it would solve the problem. AGAIN how do you propose they DO IT?

[Woody]

From the AUP

Inflammatory posts. A post, or statement in a post, which serves only to fire up negative emotions or generate anger will be considered inflammatory and will be edited or deleted at the discretion of the moderators. Multiple offenses of this nature will result in banning.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">

[Pete]

Any further statements suggesting or promoting illegal acts will result in closure of this thread and possible suspension of the antagonist.

[ 02-09-2004, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: Pete ]

raider,
Pilar never "bad mouthed" cops.
We have lost "The War On Drugs"
The tweekers are everywhere (I have a meth lab on the property next to me and the Klamath County Sheriff can't do anything about it untill the cook screws up)

You either have an anger management problem or are touchy about critisism of law inforcement.
Step back from your keyboard, take a few deep breaths and then reread what Pilar posted.

Non violent drug offenders that are not guilty of property crimes should be sent to rehab and not plugging up the jail space. Marijuana should be legalized and treated like alcohol (and taxed!)
Meth dealers and cooks should be locked up for life.

[ 02-09-2004, 08:50 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[hankstr]

I have 2 things to say: THOU SHALT NOT STEAL!!


AND this verse explains the reason so many criminals are repeat offenders!!! Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily,therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

[Pilar]

Thanks, Lee. In Europe, legalization of drugs has not really worked in the Netherlands. Not worked in the sense of significantly reducing the traffic or use. So I doubt if it would work here either. Especially since we have the prohibitionist mentality built into our system.

I guess you have to classify by how damaging the crime is. The punishment should fit the crime. Treatment should be a part of the solution. Mandatory treatment with freedom conditional on success. Like Keta said the cooks of the crank need to go away forever. The people who buy stolen merchandise from meth heads should also be punished. There is a large underground economy that is largely unchallenged. Junkies steal, sell the stuff and get their fix. Tell me that it is impossible to break that chain somewhere, I can't believe it. There is little or no effort in this regard. When on occasion a theft ring is busted they find stolen goods, stolen identities and all manner of illegal activities going on. Why are these people still out on the street?

If possessing or growing weed can be the equivalent of murder (they are both class A felonies under the right circumstances) then surely we can have a similar dire stigma associated with cooking crank. The fact that the authorities are doing anything at all about drugs and crime is good but the priorities are all wrong.

The whole system is broken. Arrested criminals need to be quickly prosecuted and jailed. There is little sense in arresting them otherwise. Correctly discerning between criminals and people who need treatment is a good place to start.

6 meth dealing arrests in KF last week and 5 were released the day they were arrested Two were second time. Most of the property crime in Klamath County is meth related.