Baytown ready to fight back!

Baytonians are fed-up with violent and senseless crime and are waking up. Baytown Sun reporter, Kirk Ehlig reported crime has risen 7%, but it feels like 70% to most of us who read the police reports and the local news. The online forum, Baytown Talks, sponsored by the Baytown

Sun has numerous posts every day about the crime and what is happening around town. We Baytonians are taking notice. We are watching.

The heinous serial rapist at large is something most of us thought would never happen here. Now little Baytown, turned big city, has big city crime. Armed robbery has become commonplace. Abductions in broad daylight, shotgun-wielding robbers, burglaries, beatings and as many as four hit and run accidents are reported daily in the police reports.

Honest hard-working citizens are buying guns and taking the concealed handgun course out of desperation. I regularly travel around town with one of my handguns, something I used to do only when I hiked. When my wife and daughter leave the house, I warn them sincerely to keep an eye out, also something that used to be rare. I have the CHP and we plan to enroll the rest of my family soon.

Some common questions I’ve heard lately are: Is Baytown chock full of evil and criminal people? What is happening here? There are plenty of jobs, if a person wants to work that is, so why are we experiencing this wave of violent crime? Should we blame those “displaced criminals from New Orleans”? Are drug crazed youth breaking into homes and accosting people at knifepoint, so they can feed their habits? Where are the cops and how come they can’t protect us? Why isn’t the Baytown Sun publishing stories about the crimes here?

In reading the police report online, I see that many of the criminals are from distant areas, doing their dirty work here in Baytown. They drive into town off of I-10, or SH-146 and exit onto Garth Road and begin their “shopping”. They steal cars, rob people, take stereos and belongings from parked vehicles and then skedaddle back the same way they came. Well-meaning, but trusting citizens continue to leave their cars unlocked, or running (while they just run in) allowing thieves continuing opportunities. Purses, Laptops, and even handguns are left in the car while folks dine.

Being the observant person I am, I witnessed a lady exiting a local office supply store. My wife and I had just parked and the lady was coming to her car, parked directly beside us. I told my wife “look at that lady digging in her purse. She is totally oblivious to her surroundings and the perfect target for a robber”. Much to my wife’s dismay, I voiced this to the lady when I exited my car within ten feet of her. She never stopped foraging or even looked up, but laughed and shook her head at my temerity. I walked off in disgust.

I probably should have minded my own business, because my wife was very upset at me and the lady thought I was arrogant and out of line.

Criminals look for their targets. If you walk across a public parking lot, rummaging through your purse, or preoccupied with children, you make a mighty tempting target for a would-be assailant. It’s far better to walk with purpose, key in hand and scan the area around you constantly, then to allow a bad person to catch you unaware. If you suspect something is wrong, then by Jiminy, it is. Turn around and go ask for an escort. If a well-meaning citizen points out to you that you are making yourself a target, by all means take it to heart. We are creatures of habit and some of our habits work just fine in a law-abiding society, but will get you robbed or killed in the real world.

When you are driving around town, keep your car doors locked and instead of yakking on the phone, look around and watch your mirrors. If you are in line at a drive-through, stay aware. Do the same thing when pumping gas. Look, look and look again. Criminals avoid people who are paying attention and move on to easier game. Keep your garage doors down and house doors locked and install outside lights. Get a dog. Do whatever it takes to protect your family. If you see something suspicious, call the police.

Hopefully, 2007 will be a better and safer year in Baytown.