Crime in the islands disrupts paradise | Editorial

Published 3:38 pm Monday, July 16, 2012

We know all too well the perils of crime in a small community. Colton Harris-Moore drove that point home with his exploits as the Barefoot Bandit.

And when it’s “one of our own” perpetrating acts of burglary and vandalism, it feels even more personal. Despite those feelings, we need to be mindful of not convicting suspects in the court of public opinion.

More than 30 Lopez Islanders organized a meeting last week with San Juan County Sheriff Rob Nou to discuss the outbreak of crime in the Bakerview neighborhood. A local man has been charged with allegedly stealing food and meat from a farm stand, but there are a myriad of break-ins that are left unsolved.

There were a range of emotions displayed during the meeting: fear, anger, maybe even a little forgiveness for the suspect, who one woman called  “very nice” during previous encounters.

But we must be careful. The man was charged with only one crime, yet it seems most in the neighborhood have concluded he’s guilty of all the break-ins.

Now turning to the crime wave on Orcas. The school building was damaged in early July during back-to-back burglaries. The stolen goods included laptops, iPads, bus radios and a small safe. These kind of crimes, particularly when done at a facility for learning, are frustrating and upsetting. If anyone knows information, please call the sheriff’s office.

It’s sad that we are once again feeling the sting of crime in our tranquil communities.  But despite experiencing a sliver of what the mainland endures, we still have a safe, nurturing place to live. We just might have to lock our doors.