SOME Dubbo locals are taking the Christmas spirit just a bit too far.
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While this may be the season of giving, that should not extend to giving crooks a free ride.
There seem to have been more people on social media in the past week or so with stories about Christmas lights being stolen, or thieves breaking into houses or cars around town. And usually around holidays there is a spike in thefts reported to police as well.
Each reported theft is not only a major inconvenience for the owners but also an unnecessary use of valuable resources as officers are tasked to investigating the crimes.
What makes it worse, however, is when the victims of the crimes have played a role in making themselves vulnerable.
Too often there are then the reports that the owner has had something to do with the theft themselves – be they leaving keys in the car, or hidden in the world’s most obvious spot under the visor or beneath the drivers seat, or windows and doors left open and/or unlocked on houses.
It’s a simple mistake that can have costly consequences, but such behaviour by car owners is also incredibly frustrating for police.
Of course, it shouldn’t be that way.
We should live in a world where we can safely leave our keys in the car or our front door unlocked, but we don’t. And we haven’t for many years.
Instead, we must all do our little bit to help the police do their jobs most effectively.
Residents should be calling in if they see suspicious behaviour in their neighbourhood rather than walking by and hoping the next person makes the report.
And that simply highlights the important role the community has to play in all policing. No matter how much money the state throws at law and order, the police can never be in all places at all times.
And when they’re not around, it’s up to the law-abiding men and women of Bathurst to be their eyes and ears.
Good police work relies on good information and, primarily, that information must come from regular people who have seen or heard something out of the ordinary.
The community also has a role to play in preventing crime in the first place by taking simple steps such as securing our homes and not leaving valuables in the car.
We must work together to make the Dubbo region the best, and safest, it can be. And that means taking your keys with you.
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