Vigilance

This week we had articles about two burglary incidents in the local area, one in Nesquehoning and the other in Lower Towamensing Township.

During both burglaries, suspects were apprehended thanks to neighbors seeing something suspicious and becoming involved.

In Nesquehoning, the suspect had become familiar with the residence because he was hired to shovel snow by the owner. The owner wasn't home and, he told police, he saw the window opened slightly.

He got three gold rings in the theft, all of which were recovered.

A neighbor happened to see suspicious activity, got a description, and called police. Within 15 minutes, a suspect was placed into custody by the police.

In Lower Towamensing Township, a neighbor spotted a suspicious vehicle in a neighbor's driveway. The neighbor gave a description of the individual in the truck and the vehicle itself to police.

The burglary of this residence netted about $2,500 in valuables. The description provided by the neighbor led to an arrest.

Back in the day, it seemed everybody on a block knew each other. That's not the case any more. People are more transient. They socialize more by Internet than in person. They don't have time for neighborly chit chat.

Even without such socializing, people should remain alert for suspicious activity and report it to police. Neighbors must be willing to stand up for each other in such events as burglaries, even if they aren't close.

Such alertness and willingness to take a stand not netted recovered goods from two burglaries, they also potentially took two burglars off the street and placed them behind bars.

Another good reason to report suspicious activity is because quite possibly your house could be targeted next.

By Ron Gower

rgower@tnonline.com