'DRUG ADDICTS ARE RUINING OUR TOWN'

Editor, The NEWS:

As a resident in the vicinity of the Salvation Army Caring Place, I
know first hand what it is like to be burglarized. After moving in to
my home three years ago with my wife and three children, we have been
robbed six times since it's opening.

Without going into too much detail, you can imagine that I am feeling
a little bitter these days. Our last theft was in our home in the
middle of the afternoon, while my son's birthday party was going on in
our back yard. Our money for our up-coming family camping trip was
stolen out of my wife's purse, which was located in our locked bedroom.

A kind soul later found her wallet and returned it to us. Money gone,
of course.

After contacting the police, we felt comforted and supported by their
efforts. The officer told us that our robbery was not the work of a
homeless person but that of a drug addict. He also mentioned that
homeless people really do not want to bother anyone, they prefer to
keep to themselves and basically live by their own means. The bigger
problem is the drug addicts.

The Vancouver Sun recently reported that there is an epidemic of theft
in Maple Ridge. We, the residents of Maple Ridge know this. The town
core is not safe, pleasant to walk in and an embarrassment to our community.

My question to you is, what's next? What can we do, (the law abiding
citizens of Maple Ridge) to clean up OUR town?

There has to be a solution. Do we sit by while our people continue to
get vandalized and the problem continues to grow?

I look forward to some brainstorming from you my fellow law abiding
citizens. There has to be a reasonable solution.

P. Harmon

Maple Ridge