Whether you’re reading online, talking to friends and neighbors, or just staying up to date with your local community, it feels like more people are becoming concerned about the rise of property crimes. They want something to be done about it, especially how important the image of the area is for the tourism industry, and we certainly don’t blame them.
With this in mind, we want to take a closer look at what is required to put things right and to adopt an approach that does far more than constantly bad-mouthing the current administration. We hope that by diving into the details and providing the balance we can bring to our community together will make a real difference.
What is going on in OC?
If you talk to the local people they will tell you that property crimes such as theft, larceny, burglary, and shoplifting are all up. Shoplifting in particular is a very highly public crime, typically committed in broad daylight, and tends to go viral on social media. We have all seen the seemingly never-ending stream of videos on Instagram and X from CA, and OC is quickly following suit in this regard.
One of the issues here is that once a tourist hotspot starts to get a reputation of an area where people may not be as safe as they are entitled to expect, the results can be seismic. Reduced visitor numbers would lead to a collapse of the local economy, a drain of talent as young people move away, and lower tax revenue to address the problems.
Is a clear demonstration of the problem everything we need? Will everyone align and start pulling in the same direction? The problem, according to many people we have spoken to, is that the moment when a statistic about a particular crime is presented in a certain zip code, the arguments begin.
What’s the issue with the stats?
One of the biggest problems with statistics is that everyone will be able to spin them, reinterpret them, and challenge them in a way that obscures the main issue. While we certainly feel that definitive numbers are important, we want to move beyond simply denouncing some figures and supporting others in this article. Our goal here is to present an argument that is chiefly supported by the prevailing sentiment of the local community, as opposed to one that is built on a single figure that may seem exaggerated in some quarters.
Public perception matters as much as stats
Although anyone can dispute a statistic and stop the debate by continually refuting everything the other side says, public perception is a completely different game. The problem here is that there are so many nuanced factors and subtle shifts of opinion that it can be hard to measure the extent of the damage that is being done until it is too late. That said, we certainly know the nature of the damage that may be done if things are not dealt with in a timely manner and with a concerted effort.
OC is a place which families and young people choose to visit when they want to have a good time, get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and spend some disposable income. They do not have to come—they are making a conscious choice to visit a place they see as a more desirable one than another week at home—and this means that public perception is vital. Even if the crime rates were quickly pushed in the opposite direction and began to decline across the board, the negative press that our beautiful community unwittingly earned would stick around far longer than the problem actually occurred.
Property needs to feel safe
When families come from out of town, they want to know that their only real headache on any given day will be narrowing down the huge menu. If they feel their property might be at risk of theft or damage—regardless of whether they are right or not—they are not going to come or stay longer. If we are going to continually attract people who spend the money that keeps our local economy going, their property needs to be safe during the whole year.
One of the other issues here is the presentation. The property crimes also include everything from high-profile arson to low-level vandalism and graffiti, all of which distort the image we want to create for every visitor. An Ocean City that looks like it has seen better days will quickly become an Ocean City whose best days are forever gone and visitor numbers will continually fall.
What can we do about it?
Social media, trending crypto casino games, and video games may provide an apparent feeling of being part of a community. However, what really matters is not the digital world behind the screen but a real, breathing community of people we’re living in. That’s why attending a community meeting can really help amplify our voice. If we all come together and pull in the same direction, we will be heard, validated, and we are playing our part in providing an effective solution that will protect our local community and vital economy.
If you believe you are too small to have influence, remind yourself that you can achieve more in a year of consistent action on a daily basis than anyone will believe right now. Get started, no matter how small you feel you are making a difference, will set you on the path of helping all of us to reclaim the community that is our home.
