An Orcas Island woman was reportedly accosted in her home following an apparent late-night break-in in the Matia View neighborhood.

In Eastsound, a large bottle containing about 270 pills and $700 in assorted prescription medication vanished from a local woman’s car in an apparent late-afternoon theft.

Someone broke into a Deer Harbor woman’s home and stole her diamond wedding ring. The 74-year-old discovered that the ring was missing following a recent trip off-island.

Four security cameras and a DVR disappeared in an apparent late-night theft at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Eastsound.

The UPS office on Orcas suspects an attempt to break into their offices. The person(s) did not gain entrance, but one of the hangar slider doors had been jimmied open, and the back office door kicked in.

This is a sampling of the thefts reported on Orcas Island during the month of August.

Sadly, theft on Orcas, and the other islands, is nothing new. It’s hard to determine the reason for these recent crimes, as the incidents are most likely rooted in deeper issues – drug use, sluggish economy, etc.

Many of us moved here to escape the perils of city living. As we lock our front doors at night and hide valuables before embarking on a trip, it slowly erodes our sense of safety. The fabric of our island is strong, but fear is insidious, and it can worm its way into a community without much warning. We feel that crime like this cannot be tolerated – by our police force, or by us.

So what to do? Let your neighbors know when you’re going out of town, and ask them to keep an eye on your house. If properties in your area have been vandalized, consider forming a neighborhood watch group. Install a video camera in your house. Call the sheriff if you see something suspicious.

These measures may seem extreme, but theft will continue if criminals think no one is watching. The Sheriff’s department has a strong presence in the islands, but the force of a unified community can be unstoppable.