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Four out
of five people are concerned about vandalism to their property, but less than
half have taken extra precautions like surveillance cameras or alarm systems to
protect their property, according to an Argus-Courier online poll Dec. 20, 2006.

Asked if
they think vandalism is increasing in their neighborhood, 43 percent said yes,
37 percent said it’s about the same and 7 percent said it is decreasing.

Here are comments by those who participated in the survey:

1. “As the
downtown redevelopment creeps toward our neighborhood (near Walnut Park), our
neighborhood is indeed experiencing an increase in vandalism. The type of
vandalism remains minor and sporadic ” litter, kicked-in fence posts,
occasional egging, fights. Substance abuse seems to generally fuel these acts.
The police have been highly responsive to our neighborhood complaints. There
have been increased patrols, citations and arrests. The problem remains ‘under
control’ but the apparent lack of respect the culprits have for themselves and
others is tragic.”

2. “We must
take our streets back. Last weekend’s murder if recorded by a camera would
definitely indicate responsibility and would most likely lead to a quick plea,
saving the taxpayers and court system time and expense.”

3. “More
eyes in the sky equals more safety. I’m thinking about installing one just to
point at the local bridge, which gets way too much graffiti. If the city would
help me pay for it, I’d do it right away. The city could offer this service and
in return the city would be a much safer place to live and play.”

4. “Vandalism
is pretty common in our area since we live between La Tercera Park and Casa
Grande High School. Over the years we have put up motion detectors but have not
used cameras as yet. Just had our next-door neighbor dump yellow paint down his
driveway into our gutter and into the storm drain. Since we didn’t catch him in
the act, nothing can be done. Isn’t this also vandalism?”

5. “A
person has to do whatever they have to do to protect their business and/or home
from people who have no values and want nothing better to steal or destroy
something they want. They don’t want to be a decent human and work to get what
they want like everyone else does.”

6. “I think
that all public schools should have surveillance cameras installed. They would
deter vandalism, graffiti and strangers from sneaking on campus. Many public
schools already have them. Let’s keep our kids safe.”

7. “Police
can’t be everywhere; surveillance cameras are a good idea for preventing crime
and for identifying those responsible for committing crimes.”

8. “Gangs
and more vagrants are around causing the problems. Ship them back to their
country of origin and 95 percent of the problems will go with them. I know they
need to meet with the police, City Council and the ACLU first. They are only
here to feed their families, and I have a bridge to sell too.”

9. “The
Petaluma PD needs to do more about vandalism and property crimes. Increased
patrols, jail time, and BIG fines for messing with a man’s castle.”

10. “Where
is the gang ‘task force?’ What is the PD doing?”

11. “Totally
in favor of surveillance cameras in this day and age. If someone is there to do
something bad, too bad for them ” they’ll be recorded. I live in an area with a
very strong neighborhood watch, more middle classed, not the Ritz. Less
vandalism as a result. Love rural Petaluma!”

12. “I
believe vandalism is increasing. We are blessed with wonderful and caring
neighbors who have approached the evening delivery man when they did not know
we were home and the Point Reyes friend who had a key to our house. So far our
good neighbors have been our surveillance program and we plan on keeping them
informed of our deliveries and travel plans.”

13. “I am
seeing a lot more graffiti and would like to see those people punished for the
crime and make them pay for the clean up. It seems like cameras are the only
way to help do that. More eyes mean less crime I would think.”

14. “I would
like to see surveillance systems used where vandalism is a recurring problem.”

15. “In all
the time I’ve lived in Petaluma, I have never had any problems with vandalism
nor have I seen any evidence of it anywhere in my neighborhood. I don’t believe
it is a serious problem at all.

16. “I’ve
never seen any vandalism in my neighborhood, Old East Petaluma.”

17. “I would
like to see surveillance systems used where vandalism is a recurring problem.”

18. “My
husband and I live on Rainier Avenue and have had surveillance cameras for
almost 10 years. We feel they help lower the amount of calls to the PPD. If we
hear a noise in the middle of the night we can see on the cameras what is going
on. Without the cameras we would have called the PPD more than a few times over
10 years.”

19. “Mr.
(Mike) Harris should ask Mike Kerns and other local politicians that cater to
special interest groups rather than the public at large if their houses have
been hit with those same water-soluble paintballs.”

20. “I’m all
for surveillance cameras in public places!”

21. “There should be cameras on every street corner!”

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