Letter: Don’t let good neighborhood fall to crime (July 11, 2008)
Editor:
My family lives off of Anthoine Street in South Portland. We moved to South Portland a year ago from another state with the desire to provide a better life for our daughter. Ah Maine: “The Way Life Should Be,” “Vacationland.” Sounds good, right? Well, in the last month there have been two break-ins and one attempted break in on our street of eight homes. One break in and the attempt occurred while the residents were home sleeping.
I have spoken to numerous residents from streets surrounding ours and have heard of several other break-ins off of Anthoine Street (which by the way is the same street where the South Portland Police Department is located) in the last couple of weeks. Last night, I called the South Portland Police Department. I spoke with a lieutenant to inquire about increasing patrols in our neighborhood and to ask if there were any leads into the burglaries. What I found out was that, due to budgetary constraints, there are only four patrol cars for all of South Portland during the overnight hours. I was not reassured that patrols of our neighborhood would be increased nor was I given any indication that there were any suspects for the criminal activity.
When I asked what I could do about the number of patrol cars it was suggested that I communicate with the South Portland City Council. I will do that. The purpose of this letter is to inform my neighbors of criminal activity and to suggest that we band together to stop it now. I did not move here to be afraid for my safety. I am scared, angry and frustrated. My tax rate is higher than in the state we moved from. In our prior state there had been some break-ins in the neighborhood surrounding ours. Within a week there was a neighborhood meeting with the police chief in attendance. Within another week we received notification that the perpetrator had been apprehended and that the robbery victims needed to come identify their possessions.
I guess it is time for me to get more involved. I should be more aware of where and how my tax dollars are spent. I refuse to sit idly by and watch a good neighborhood full of hardworking families become a crime ridden area where residents are not even safe while they are sleeping in their own homes.
If you would like to share your comments or concerns, please email p_werner@yahoo.com.
Patricia Werner
South Portland
My family lives off of Anthoine Street in South Portland. We moved to South Portland a year ago from another state with the desire to provide a better life for our daughter. Ah Maine: “The Way Life Should Be,” “Vacationland.” Sounds good, right? Well, in the last month there have been two break-ins and one attempted break in on our street of eight homes. One break in and the attempt occurred while the residents were home sleeping.
I have spoken to numerous residents from streets surrounding ours and have heard of several other break-ins off of Anthoine Street (which by the way is the same street where the South Portland Police Department is located) in the last couple of weeks. Last night, I called the South Portland Police Department. I spoke with a lieutenant to inquire about increasing patrols in our neighborhood and to ask if there were any leads into the burglaries. What I found out was that, due to budgetary constraints, there are only four patrol cars for all of South Portland during the overnight hours. I was not reassured that patrols of our neighborhood would be increased nor was I given any indication that there were any suspects for the criminal activity.
When I asked what I could do about the number of patrol cars it was suggested that I communicate with the South Portland City Council. I will do that. The purpose of this letter is to inform my neighbors of criminal activity and to suggest that we band together to stop it now. I did not move here to be afraid for my safety. I am scared, angry and frustrated. My tax rate is higher than in the state we moved from. In our prior state there had been some break-ins in the neighborhood surrounding ours. Within a week there was a neighborhood meeting with the police chief in attendance. Within another week we received notification that the perpetrator had been apprehended and that the robbery victims needed to come identify their possessions.
I guess it is time for me to get more involved. I should be more aware of where and how my tax dollars are spent. I refuse to sit idly by and watch a good neighborhood full of hardworking families become a crime ridden area where residents are not even safe while they are sleeping in their own homes.
If you would like to share your comments or concerns, please email p_werner@yahoo.com.
Patricia Werner
South Portland
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