MIKE CLARK: What are our officials doing about rampant crime?

Lately, the city and county have seen a marked increase in the number of break-ins and thefts. Criminals brazen enough to enter people’s garages, homes and fenced yards during daylight and overnight, stealing anything that is not nailed down, including pets. Where’s the public outcry? I am not talking about comments on Facebook or in the Squawkbox. We, the citizens of this area, should be addressing these issues at every city and county commission meeting, sending letters to the mayor, the police chief and anyone else who will listen.

The question is: What is the Albany Police Department, the Dougherty County Police Department, the Albany and Dougherty County Commissions and the mayor’s office doing about this problem?

I live on the Avenues and have never seen a police car patrolling on my street, much less patrolling the alley. A family member lives one street over from me, and last week someone climbed the fence and stole their lawnmower and gas can. They had to pick the lawnmower up and lift it over the fence in order to steal both items; obviously, there was more than one person involved.

This is not just a problem on the Avenues. This larceny is happening all over the city and county. The citizens of Albany and Dougherty County are told by our elected officials they are “tough on crime.” Where? Crime rates continue to rise. We have a crime task force, what are these officers actually doing?

According to the APD’s recent report for May 2019 vs. May 2018: larceny rates increased by 8.47 percent, burglary crimes are up 17.65 percent, and overall property crime rates have increased 10.26 percent in one year. According to APD’s report, the crime trend total is up 8.33 percent. Albany will never prosper with these kinds of statistics. We will never be taken seriously except as a low-income, welfare city.

What do the beats officers do if they don’t patrol their assigned beat? In this recent report, crimes increased across APD beats 2-8, and crimes are increasing Wednesday through Friday. Why haven’t patrols been stepped up in these areas on the days the crimes are increasing?

The APD mission statement is: Develop our personnel to provide quality law enforcement services in an efficient manner that keeps the public trust while maintaining order in our community. How is this being accomplished with crime rates increasing every month?

The City Commission has four seats up for grabs — including the mayor’s seat; the city is dealing with rampant crime, sewer infrastructure breakdowns and skyrocketing utility rates, just to name a few. Things in this city need to change and change fast.

Every day homes, property and cars are vandalized, with no end in sight. Homeowners are frustrated and downright angry that nothing seems to be done to curb this ongoing problem. Where will it end? Vigilante justice, armed neighborhood watch groups?

I hope not. People want to be able to protect their property if the police won’t. It could get really ugly, really fast without change.

We need people in charge who really want to promote and enforce positive change for our community. Otherwise we will become an area where crime runs rampant with little to no assistance from law enforcement. Remember this when the elections roll around!