Moorpark crime wave must be stopped
After taking a moment to review the information on this week's Sheriff's Blotter, one might get the feeling that Moorpark is losing the fight against crime.

As illustrated in this week's editorial cartoon, the growth of a community often brings crime and its related problems. The higher the population, the higher the ratio of "bad apples" who are willing to drag down the rest of us with their selfish or self-destructive activities.

Senior Dep. Ed Tumbleson, crime prevention officer for the Moorpark Police Department, admits we are in the midst of a crime wave, but the problem goes beyond the city's borders. Crime throughout Eastern Ventura County has spiked, and few have an answer as to why.

One reason may be the epidemic of methamphetamine use, as frequently mentioned in the police reports. As discussed in a recent Moorpark Acorn editorial, methamphetamine use ripples throughout the city, affecting both users and non-users. Those who have fallen into the grip of this insidious drug lose their sense of morality and any feeling of responsibility toward others in their family and community. Drug abusers, especially meth addicts, won't hesitate to smash the rear window of a car and steal a laptop computer in order to help support their habit.

Contributing to the crime wave was the three Cal Lutheran students who went on a recent spree and burglarized numerous cars in Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and surrounding communities. Police advise repeatedly that you should keep your car locked at all times- no matter how trivial the errand or how familiar the surroundings.

While it's important to take care of ourselves and our families, we also need to reach out to others in community so that we present a united front in the war against crime.

The Moorpark Acorn suggests, with the approval of the Moorpark Police Department, the formation of a community-wide crime watch program. And, of course, if you see that a crime is in progress, call 911. If you need advice or would like to discuss a situation you may suspect is a crime, call the police station at (805) 532-2700.

As Tumbleson says, it's "Neighbors helping neighbors." That's what Moorpark is all about. Let's whip this crime wave together.