WE NEED MORE PROSECUTIONS, MORE CONVICTIONS

Burglaries occur every day in almost every neighborhood. Most
dangerous are burglaries that occur when we are home. The drug problem
on Guam spawns many of these crimes. The invasion of our homes depicts
the ultimate threat to our families and our lives.

Residents can better protect their homes in many ways. One suggestion,
of course, is to immediately fortify home entry points with improved
locks and door and window jambs. Be sure to apply this technique to
the sides of home that do not face the main road or entrance.
Preventing easy entry will help thwart burglaries.

One can also place entry alarms on windows and doors and, if
affordable, get security services from companies offering electronic
surveillance. Varying your daily schedule also helps. Occasional
lunches at home or returning at different times can deter potential
burglars looking for the best time to strike.

One of the most effective ways to prevent burglaries is to work with
neighbors and keep an eye out for each other. Take note of suspicious
vehicles and persons in the neighborhood. Talk to neighbors about
what's going on in your area. Keep your eyes open, not just for your
property, but for the property of others. This will ultimately lead to
improved crime reporting and less overall crime. A team approach
creates an umbrella effect to protect homes and neighborhoods. There
is power in numbers.

There is tremendous potential for Neighborhood Watch and community
policing programs on Guam. These programs have been tested and have
been proven effective. The key to these programs is communication and
the will to be a part of protecting your neighborhoods.

Greater cooperation between citizens, the Guam Police Department and
the attorney general's office will lead to more convictions. We need
more prosecutions and more convictions to take habitual criminals off
the streets and keep them away from our homes and families.

We must challenge Guam's drug problem at all levels to defeat related
crimes. We must have this cooperation to be safe and secure in our
homes -- to protect our families.

Our justice system already relies on everyday people to participate as
jurors. Lady Justice can get a real boost by having every person on
Guam report crimes and be available to provide information to
authorities. Victim and witness rights can be asserted at any time.
Anonymous tips can also be made through CrimeStoppers. Even without an
organized program in a neighborhood, citizens who suspect or see a
crime should call it in.

In the end, those who commit crime must be held accountable and must
bear the consequences. We can break the cycle of crime and we must do
it together.