Crime is up in Oneonta.
A Daily Star front-page story
Tuesday about the increase in
many crimes was a reality check.
Many people say the area is a
great place to raise a family, and
for the most part it is true.
But even a pretty little city
placed in the hills of upstate New
York is not immune to crime.
Oneonta Police Chief Joseph
Redmond suggested that the
increase in crime is due to the
economy. He also said drugs may
be a factor in the 103 burglaries in
2009, up from 86 in 2008.
The burglaries are not only by
out-of-town implants to Oneonta,
either. Young drug users from the
area have been linked to some of
the burglaries.
One can’t help but notice the
prevalence of drugs in the area
just from reading the almost-weekly,
if not daily,
stories about
controlled substance
users in
sellers.
It’s easy to
say, “Those people
should get
help. We have
resources in the
area. There’s
the unemployment
office for
those who are
out of work.”
But reality is
not that easy.
The economy
may be a factor
in the increase
of drug use or
drunken driving
(arrests for driving
while intoxicated or ability-impaired
by drugs or alcohol were up
about 55 percent).
Maybe people are looking more
for an escape, and can’t find it in a
cop film at the movies.
Maybe they mistakenly feel
there’s more reason to drown sorrows
or dull the pain with illegal
substances.
We live in a small a community
where many people wave to their
neighbors, celebrate local spelling
bee champs, don’t lock their cars
when running into the store to get
a carton of milk and don’t always
chain-lock back doors.
People are trusting in small
communities. But Oneonta’s a real
place with real problems.
And residents need to be more
vigilant about little habits that
could prevent a lot of incidents,
such as burglaries.
People should lock their doors.
Turn a couple of keys and protect
the contents of your automobile
and home.
The city police department is
being aggressive about targeting
drunken drivers and responding to
calls for assistance.
Oneonta’s not Mayberry.
Citizens need to be smarter
about protecting themselves.
