Staying safe and secure, wherever you are

There are times when one can get lost in the peace and tranquility of life in the country. After all, the lush, rolling hills, the picturesque farmland, the quaint villages — all of these wonderful attributes of country living are part and parcel of why so many people choose to make the Harlem Valley their home. But despite the charm of such a life there are still unsavory elements that each and every person living in this rural Utopia must be aware of, these days more than ever.Case in point, the burglary that occurred in Pine Plains on Nov. 15, discovered by homeowners after they encountered a suspect who portrayed himself as a religious devotee. (For full story check out www.TriCornerNews.com or the Nov. 24 edition of The Millerton News.) The longtime area residents who were victimized said they were shocked to learn the 20-to-30-something clean-cut man who greeted them on their property when they returned home had been inside both their home and barn, rifling through their belongings. He reportedly stole jewelry, and with it, their peace of mind.Although the married couple had left their home and barn locked tight, the burglar allegedly gained access by forcing his way through a sliding glass door in one instance, and a window in another. Worse yet, on Sunday, Nov. 21, a Hillsdale woman was killed, allegedly by a man who stole her car. The suspect is now in custody. Lois Decker’s body was discovered after the car thief reportedly stole her vehicle and police attempted to contact her about the incident. The police instead found Decker strangled, and were led into an investigation that involved multiple car jackings as well as a serious automobile crash, in addition to the homicide. (See story, Page A1.)Days later, on Wednesday, Nov. 23, a press release was sent to The Millerton News office from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, regarding an armed robbery at the Kinderhook X-Tra Mart on Route 9. There were no injuries and the suspect is still on the loose.While slightly north of the Harlem Valley, the crime remains in our general region. It also speaks to the possibility of an unsettling trend. Could today’s unforgiving economy be serving as a catalyst, sending otherwise law-abiding citizens into a life of crime? Are the devastating effects of the job-market, mortgages, Wall Street — all serving as an impetus to those who are on the precipice between following the law and breaking it? We may never know, for who can say what causes anyone to do anything? But certainly, the fact there’s an economic crisis overshadowing us all, while everyone is under such enormous pressure walking though daily life, can’t be helping. In light of that, one can but imagine there will be more, not less, criminal activity down the pike. That said, take heed to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property. Lock your doors, be it to your cars or your home. Don’t let strangers into your residence, no matter what their pitch is (in the case of the Pine Plains couple, the suspect asked them to “talk about Jesus”). Don’t post on Facebook when you’re going out and won’t be home, or what your location is (but do let a close friend or family member know where you will be in case of an emergency). Don’t leave spare keys outside, because they can be discovered, usually quite easily. The bottom line — don’t do anything that could compromise your safety or wellbeing. Don’t be blase about protecting your self, your family or your property. Most importantly, always remember you could be a target, because even though you live in the country, danger knows no bounds.