In a season we like to think of as characterized by giving, tolerance, love, and gratitude, it is particularly painful when someone steals from a member of our community.

Theft and break-ins on Orcas are not new. But when they happen now, so close to Christmas and with so many families struggling to provide gifts for their kids – let alone pay their heating bills – it is heartbreaking.

The recent theft of two local women’s purses, while they were in an unlocked car at the food bank, is profoundly disappointing. In addition to cash, checkbooks, credit cards, and a cell phone, one of the purses contained several local gift certificates that the woman, a single mother, had planned to use for buying presents for her children. Not only is it a slap in the face to the many generous community members who give to organizations like the food bank and businesses who donate gift certificates to those in need, it has ruined this family’s Christmas. Not to mention the huge inconvenience of canceling credit cards, notifying the bank, and calling the cell phone company.

When crime like this occurs, it slowly disintegrates the sense of safety and unity that drew most of us here. The sheriff’s office has just reported attempted break-ins of cars on Orcas. This compels us to lock our cars and look around the street after we park. Businesses, including pre-schools, were broken into this fall. So we lock our doors at home and think twice about leaving any windows open. This kind of fear can wear on a community and break down the trust we have in one another.

More so than in the city, small communities can hold each other socially responsible. We are all neighbors here, and when we hurt one another it is hard to avoid that pain. The teenage girls who stole from local merchants this summer submitted a public apology in last week’s edition of the Sounder. I commend these young women for speaking one-on-one with the shop owners, admitting their mistake, and learning from the experience. Although the community was upset by the incident, the merchants chose to not press charges, but instead talked with the girls and explained the impact of stealing. This kind of intimate exchange probably had more of an effect than a fine or community service.

Whether the break-ins here are motivated by drugs, poverty, or simply boredom, we can’t just accept that stealing is a part of life on Orcas. We realize the stress of the economy is very hard on everyone, but no one’s situation excuses stealing. We have too many organizations dedicated to helping those in need for anyone to be that desperate. And this is one of the few places where that help is given without strings attached.

So to whomever stole the purse last week at the food bank, take a good look at whom you stole from. It was all of us.