The way I see it, when the criminal element within our society, step up to another level in their depraved intentions to swindle the remainder of civil society, we who are minded to remain as law abiding citizens, also need to step it up another level, in order to frustrate their efforts.
So, just in case you are not aware, one of the favorite ‘programs’ that attract the listening attention of the criminals nowadays, is the death announcements.
Well I newa!
Yes, by that means they are made aware, as to who has died; when and where the funeral service is going to take place and then they put their dastardly plans into place….
Sometime ago, in Gingerland, when a friend of mine was arranging to bury his mom, one of the known thieves in the community, asked him what time on the particular day, that the funeral service would be held.
My friend gave him the information, thinking that the man was empathizing with his family and anted to attend the funeral service.
Needless to say, while the family was mourning at the Anglican Church, the thief was climbing through a window into the family home and was able to get an unknown sum of money, in various currencies, as visiting family members had flown in from different parts of the world.
When he was accosted the following day by the Police, included in the money found on his person, were some Bajan dollars and it is instructive to note that some Bajan dollars were among the money that went missing from the home!
Even more recently, a dear family to me, buried their loved one. While they were at the church, an unauthorized visitor entered one of the family homes and video footage later showed him rummaging from room to room.
Lots of precious jewelry and other items; some with sentimental value, were removed by the brazen thief.
The family apparently turned over the video footage to the Police and indicated who the suspect was and up to this day, the individual has not been arrested.
So, it means therefore, that whenever there is a death in your family, you will have to ensure that somebody stays at home and not attend the funeral, or hire security services for the day.
Having cameras at home may not be enough of a deterrent, as in the case of my friends in the family aforementioned.
I also do not recommend what I heard one person say. That they would wait behind the door, with a sharp cutlass in hand and the first person to come through, would get it….
We have to stop the criminals from invading our private space and taking things that were achieved by the dint of hard work and sacrifice.
Neighbourhood watches can also be established.
I did mention funerals, but the same applies for weddings and any event for that matter, when you may be out of your home for an extended period.
I do not promote violence as an acceptable response but if they are smart, we have got to work smarter.
God’s word tells us that we have to be ‘as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.’
Let us by his grace seek to protect what he has allowed us to be stewards over.
That’s the way I see it. How do you see it?”