EDITORIAL - Can looting be stopped?

The infuriating brazenness with which looters descended on a crashed delivery truck on Mount Rosser in St Catherine this week is just another example of how depraved our citizens have become. The incident should have opened up the eyes to how much social order has declined in our country so that it is acceptable to victimise a victim.

What was striking about the awful incident is that the looters not only swiped a variety of items, they also reportedly stole tyres and gas from the vehicle. And to top it off, there was not even a modicum of sympathy for the truck driver. Photos showed that mainly young adults had converged on the scene. The question must be asked: Why are these youngsters not in school or on the job?

Looting of this nature is not new; it happens all over the country and in many different circumstances during natural disasters, riots and even blackouts. And, regrettably, it happens elsewhere in the world during wars and other crises.

Our comments on this incident may not change anything, but we still feel it is our duty to speak up by urging a return to the spirit of community that once existed in our country and by exhorting our fellow citizens to be honest and display greater respect for other people's property.

ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION

Alas, criminality is not about linking one's view to reality; instead, it is more about finding examples of reality to fit one's situation. Looters, no doubt, have plenty of economic justification for their actions. It's still a crime to steal, although the persons who helped themselves to the goods on Wednesday will probably say it was 'free stuff' like manna from heaven, sent to them to alleviate their suffering and hunger.

The police prevented further looting from happening at the Mount Rosser accident scene although we have not so far heard of any arrest for looting the truck. Public mood is generally sympathetic towards looters, especially if it is felt that the looting was motivated by hunger. The police, too, tend to be lenient with looters.

However, stealing truck tyres and gas puts an entirely different spin on things and gives the impression that the looting was carried out simply because the opportunity presented itself.

Many otherwise law-abiding citizens will suddenly become susceptible to the temptation of looting. It's a concept that is difficult to explain.

How should the problem of looting be dealt with? We would not call for stiffer penalties for looting. That would be a knee-jerk reaction to the problem. Robbery is already a crime on the books and it is not a trivial offence, so the answer is for the police to rigorously enforce the existing law.

But enforcement, as we have come to understand it, is not pursued with the kind of energy, especially when it relates to perceived softer crimes like fraud, theft and scamming. The result is that there is an epidemic of dishonesty that seems to have blanketed the country.

Ultimately, we must return to a place where there is respect for other people, for their property, and for the rule of law.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.