Ed Galvan
Berkeley Police Department
Hall of Justice
2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
Dear Officer Galvan:
I just learned of your latest crime deterrent plan in which you are supplying citizens with locks for their cars. It seems that Berkeley has an inordinate number of car thieves in its population. If your plan is effective, you will be saving the city a good deal of time and expense that would be devoted to tracking down these cars.
I am writing with a supplemental suggestion. While increasing the security of the cars belonging to Berkeley’s citizens is admirable, it does not eliminate the risk to others’ property. Many of the would-be thieves will simply seek satisfaction in neighboring communities. You are quoted as saying that most people take cars for a joy ride and then abandon them. That is why I believe you should start a program similar to the “city car share” for these joy-riders. You could distribute a small fleet of clunkers, specially painted so that people can identify them, and leave the keys in the ignition. Local thrill-seekers who would otherwise wind up as criminals can just take one for a spin.
I hope that you will also consider widening the scope of do-it-yourself law enforcement. If you give a select number of community volunteers badges and tasers, you can put your feet up once in a while.
Truly,
Liz Mann
