ALARM IS A RATIONAL RESPONSE TO CRIME STATISTICS

Re: Caution: Crime statistics can be quite alarming, Editorial, Aug. 3

The "apocalypse" referred to in the editorial can already be found in the
Downtown Eastside and it is spreading. The walking dead can be seen here,
there and everywhere, either buying poison, consuming it or on their way to
break into cars or homes to feed their habit. Once their mission is
accomplished, these addicts can go to a safe injection site, inject more
poison and then repeat the cycle.

It's funny, though, that these safe injection sites don't seem to provide us
with much safety from car and property crimes, which are as common as
catching a cold.

One parking lot across from the Waterfront Hotel reports five to seven car
break-ins daily, despite increased security.

The editorial said the jump in property crime rate might just reflect better
methods of reporting, rather than an increase in actual crime.

What's next? Are we going to decriminalize car and home break-ins?

Patti Milson

Vancouver