Looting was always a major concern during the June flood, but to see it become an issue now is disgusting.
As flood-ravaged communities try and piece together some semblance of normalcy it is disconcerting to hear, almost on a daily basis, robberies in these communities.
Unfortunately, crime in any neighbourhood is a reality, but the nature of these recent burglaries is even more dispicable than the routine thefts.
The latest is disheartening as a High River church was robbed last week.
High River RCMP are investigating a burglary at the Full Gospel Church. The break, enter and theft occurred overnight and was reported in the early morning hours of Oct. 25.
According to police, unknown suspects gained entry to the church and stole a wide range of building tools used by tradesmen working on the re-construction of the building after the flood.
What has our society come to if people are robbing a church?
Albeit, it was not the church’s items stolen per se, but these were the tools needed to rebuild a church.
There have been thefts at the temporary housing camps, from businesses and now even churches are not sacred.
It is a sad statement on the character of our communities if thieves feel they have free reign in these flooded towns.
Perhaps a special law could be implemented stating thefts from flood damaged communities will result in significant, punitive penalties.
Such a step may be extreme, but in the meantime, residents in these communities need to be vigilant about who is in their neighbourhood.
With hundreds of strange people, trucks and businesses in these towns helping with recovery it is difficult, but for the sake of your community be aware.
