In law-enforcement circles, a theory exists to describe how once
pristine, safe neighborhoods can degenerate, over the passage of
years or decades, into dilapidated, dangerous
neighborhoods.
Called the Broken Window theory, the logic is thus: If something
even as small as a garage window breaks and goes unrepaired, it
sends a message that the homeowner does not care about his house
and surroundings.
One broken window begets another broken window, often at someone
else’s house, which then begets a bit of graffiti, and so on.
Eventually, the theory goes, the neighborhood becomes home to more
than mere delinquents, but also to dangerous criminals who see a
rundown neighborhood populated by people who just don’t
care.
The theory, which seems reasonable, offers a lesson. Each
individual must do his part to keep the entire neighborhood
crime-free and safe.
The theory might just be put to test in the Pinery and Timbers
subdivisions near Parker. It seems more than a few residents have
decided to put a stop to vandalism, which has plagued the areas
recently.
Residents, through homeowners associations, water districts,
parks and recreation groups and others, have contracted with the
Douglas County Sheriff’s Association to have their areas patrolled
by off-duty deputies.
As we all know, however, the deputies cannot be everywhere at
once. They will need help.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Tim Moore
acknowledged a greater level of help from residents, but more can
be done.
“I’m not sure we can do a whole lot more without the citizens
helping,” he said.
One of the ways residents can help law enforcement – and thereby
themselves – is to form neighborhood watch programs. However,
despite information about how to form and run the operations being
readily available from the Pinery, only two people have picked up
that information.
We’re all busy. Sometimes making a stop on the way home from
work to pick up information about a neighborhood watch seems
impossible to do. And who can even imagine the time it would take
to organize and run one?
But if a lot of residents come together, and each shoulders a
small portion of the burden, a great deal can be
accomplished.
The cooperative agreement is in its infancy and could gain
momentum and acquire more participants. We hope so.
When we have an emergency, we expect Johnny Law to be Johnny on
the spot. Now, Parker area residents have on opportunity react
in-kind.
Think about the message strong neighborhood watch associations
send to vandals and other would-be criminals: That garage window
will not only be repaired, but the vandal might just be caught
breaking it.