Warning signs


To the Editor:


In the 35 years that I have been on Shelter Island, I have never locked my front door, because I always felt safe. The past few months I have started to lock my doors, and installed a burglar alarm for when I am not home. 


My actions are due to the increased risk of burglary and crime coming into our lives. The police report article “Islander arrested on felony burglary” says it all — we are now living among potential violent criminals. That statement sounds scary and we all should be scared. 


I have 20 years law enforcement under my belt and I have seen this type of trend as the beginning of the downfall of a town. This also sounds scary but it is the truth. We must take care of the small crime and the big crime will not come. This includes going after the landlords who rent their homes to many people room by room. These are the same people who will bring in the gangs, and if that happens, all is lost. We will then see drugs and violent crimes at our doorsteps. 


I commend our Police Department for a job well done but this will get out of hand very fast if we do not take care of this now! I commend the courts for setting high bail in these cases; this will keep the criminals in jail until trial. But again I say it: This is a scary trend I see and we must take care of the small stuff to prevent the big stuff.


ROBERT MANUELLA


Shelter Island