How to fight crime the right way

I find the city of Agoura Hills' agreeing to fund an additional sheriff's vehicle somewhat puzzling and a touch humorous. I mean, I certainly can understand the move if this was a high or even moderate crime area filled with chases and felonies and gangs, oh my. Yet, last week's Sheriff's Blotter for Agoura Hills listed eight crimes involving theft of goods from, or damage to, a vehicle; two crimes involving theft from a business and two crimes involving theft from residential garages- not exactly the type of crimes that an additional sheriff's vehicle would deter.

What, you say? That having an additional sheriff's vehicle would be a deterrent because there would be more patrolling deputies? Perhaps. But if it were that simple a solution to our area's soaring crime rate, then why doesn't the sheriff's department remove the vehicles that are sitting in parking lots around the area and put a deputy behind the wheel? Surely any criminal worth his or her mug shot understands that those parked vehicles are decoys and that there's no deputy at Yum Yum Donuts, Starbucks or anywhere else in the area.

So, rather than spend money to reduce the type of crimes that were listed in last week's Sheriff's Blotter, I have a suggestion that would raise money while lowering crime. No, not write more bogus traffic citations. Rather, fine the owners of businesses and residences who do not properly secure their property and vehicle owners who leave expensive property in open sight. Might as well hang a sign that says "Steal me."

Lastly, I would have addressed the funding to outfit a sheriff's van with high tech surveillance equipment to enable more effective monitoring of suspected criminals, but I'm approaching The Acorn's word limit. Even so, just think about it. Dan Gersten Agoura Hills