To the Editor,

This letter is in response to Geraldine Lowry’s letter about crime in Lumberton.

Motels and hotels in Lumberton do see a high number of thefts due to their easy access to main roads and light security, but we need to place more blame on the patrons then on the police. Thieves are like cockroaches; if you give them darkness and a prize they will come out to get it. Most of the time these travelers who stay at our hotels leave everything in their vehicles for the taking, from GPS systems mounted in view on the windshields to luggage and unsecured equipment in the bed of their trucks.

I know that you should not have to worry about someone stealing your property but unless you are an idiot, you have to know that crime is a never-ending problem, therefore take anything of value out of your vehicle before going into your hotel room at night.

Now for the other issue about the police not getting the stolen property back after a theft. Guess what, most of the unassuming and clueless victims do not have serial numbers to give to the police. When the victims do have serial numbers, the police are able to not only recover the victim’s property, but also it leads to the arrest of some of these cockroaches/ thieves.

My last point is that the police cannot arrest away crime. Crime and criminals have to be dealt with by the court and correctional systems more efficiently. Make sure when it comes time to vote for elected officials, you know if they are going to be tough or if they are going to let the criminals back out on the streets to steal more from innocent victims.

Stig Larson

Lumberton