Editor,

A warning to the Upper Crust. I would like to ask each reader to please take a moment to think about what I am saying. A person gets caught shoplifting at Walmart and gets a slap on the wrist! Six weeks later the same individual is nabbed again conducting the same crime and receives yet another light sentence because the jail system is on the verge of being overcrowded. A few weeks later the same individual is caught yet another time shoving items into a purse or under a shirt yet rather than having fear for being locked away for long periods of time the criminal realizes that he/she will be out before the police officer completes the report.

To combat these problems the Powers That Be have developed a plan where the sentences for people committing crimes now go from jail sentences to home confinement or pay small fines. Where is the logic in this? The message that is being sent when this course of action is taken is that you can benefit from stealing your items rather than purchase them because if you get caught, the fine may not even be near the amount that you successfully walked away with before you got caught.

We also must remember that practice makes perfect and these shoplifters are only getting craftier with every successful item stuffed away into their purse or pockets. Here is what the honest citizens need to be worried about! Eventually these dirtbags that go from grocery store to retail store to nab that quick item for $10 to $20 bucks will decide to graduate to the more costly items because their nickel/dime bag habits have now expanded to pills and heavier narcotics. With the cost of narcotics being more than the cheap stuff, the crooks will have to focus on more lucrative targets which will be residential areas when people are away from home or while they are enjoying a good night’s sleep.

If the crime rate continues to climb in Logan and the sentences continue to become more of a joke, why would a criminal want to waste his time with the small scores when they can focus on the larger pay offs! Places such as banks, the elite houses in Middleburg or Mitchell Heights and the little old ladies that like to dress nice and wear jewelry everywhere they go. If you think I am trying to scare you then you are correct.

Apparently it is time for the people that have invested their life’s savings and family history into Logan County to do more than just read an article and agree with it. You need to start making phone calls to the courthouse and start asking what they are going to do about it. You must expect more from our elected officials and “Your” safety should be a small token of their appreciation for “Your” vote.

Logan has got to make a change! Don’t make the jail sentences weaker but better yet, make them harsher! Make the jails a place to sit and think about your crimes! Not a place where they can live off of our tax dollars and get educated.

How come a law has not been passed that confiscates the vehicles of drunk drivers? I can guarantee you those people will think twice about driving drunk after they have lost two or three cars. Have they confiscated any cars and houses of dope dealers? Car auctions can make money for the county. Give it to the teachers for higher salaries. Use it to clean up Logan!

I have family in Logan that I care for and the thought of them having to live in an environment that is starting to look like it is ran by Nino Brown from “New Jack City” just cannot be tolerated. Time to start asking your elected officials about their plan to fix it. And tell them that you don’t feel like waiting for the next election to hear it.

Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way!

Sappers Clear The Way! Airborne All The Way!

MAJ Richard Ojeda

Fayetteville, N.C.