WE have probably all had a taste of crime – and most of us not from the perpetrator’s point of view.
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Some of us have had our car stolen, some might have been assaulted, others might have come from holidays or even woken up in the morning to find they had been robbed.
It is frightening.
As well as the anger, there is also the dreadful realisation that your possessions have been violated by someone probably just on the lookout for some quick cash.
Someone who breaks into your car or your house is not going to handle your items with care, and not going to appreciate the story behind the things you own.
Unfortunately, when someone is the victim of crime, the anger can often turn to fear.
You feel violated and vulnerable, and you are suddenly aware that this could happen again.
The fact is, of course, that most of us are lucky enough to go through most of our time crime-free.
We take our safety for granted.
In our own lives, we have to strike some sort of balance. We can lock our doors and our cars, but not become paranoid about anyone we might see down the street.
But as well as taking the obvious precautions, it seems apparent that something more needs to be done.
There is a growing outcry from Gunnedah residents about thefts and vandalism.
Gunnedah is by no means a hotbed of crime, but the perception is that the problem is festering.
People are feeling powerless to protect themselves against those who see no need to follow the law.
There needs to be clear communication here between the community, other authorities and the police.
People need to be able to see what is being done to address the issue, and we need to send a clear message to people that this is not acceptable.
In the next few weeks, let’s hope we see something positive come out of this discontent. We can work together to take a look at what is going on, and take steps to limit it.
We will never eradicate crime, but it doesn’t help to keep it in
the dark.