Don't blame victims for crimes

Don't blame victims for crimes

"Let's give the criminals a pass"

That's the take away from one of your editorial staffs' opinions in the Saturday Soapbox dated Oct. 14.

The item was titled "Be smart, lock up." So like our liberal media, to blame the law abiding for the criminal acts of others.

I read this article in utter disbelief. I wasn't sure if I should laugh at the idea that somehow the burglaries in the Geneva area were the result of law abiding citizens leaving their garage doors open and their cars unlocked, or be infuriated that someone once again would insinuate that the criminals somehow were enticed to commit the crime. I suppose if we leave a tip for a hard-working waitress on the table, people should feel obliged to pocket it, since it posed such an enticing opportunity for a thief.

Then the editor goes on to state we should lock up, to free up our police for more pressing matters. Well I'm not sure where this particular editor lives, but I believe burglary is one of the more serious offenses in our area. Would he prefer that we free them up to write speeding tickets?

I personally would prefer our police protecting my home and property vs. giving someone a traffic citation, although from the liberal's point of view, the traffic citation is a revenue generator while the burglary is simply an expense to our police force. Perhaps that's his motivation.

Securing our belongings is a necessary requirement in a society which coddles those without morals, but please let's not blame the victims!

Joseph J Carroll

South Elgin