Hometown robberies and violence. What can I do?

Question

I live in a small town on the outter edge of Kansas and while it has always been peaceful and calm, there has always been underlying problems that have been kept quiet such as the extensive drug abusers and sellers, the break-ins, the robberies, etc. As of lately though, the criminals have been getting bolder and no longer care about being covert. They've robbed Domino's, a gas stations, the movie theatre, a jewelry store, and a Subway TWICE in the same week. This has all been in a span of two or less months.
My question is this: How can I help or raise awareness in the community? How can I get people to start caring and start defending their town? The police are trying to do their part, but everyone is being so helpless and I know there's something we can do... I just don't know what. Things will only get worse as we live right outside of a metropolitan area and the slime that lives there is slowly leaking into our peaceful town.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

While concealed weapons may be some individual's choices, I choose not to meet this violence with more violence. Having everyone in the city carry a gun is not what I had in mind... especially when a good chunk of the community is made up of drug abusers. I want to raise awareness and I want these criminals to know that what they're doing will not be tolerated. Everyone is just standing around waiting on the police to handle it... and it's only a matter of time before someone is killed.

Answer 1

- Encourage everybody to report suspicious activities to police no matter how minor they are
- If stores followed their safety procedures and keep little cash in registers, the robbers won't take th risk to rob them..
- Not leaving valuables in cars such as visible money..
- Encourage stores to make use of their window services at night and lock all doors.

you can share your opinions through your local paper in your community..

Answer 2

Raising awareness....now what does that mean? You could put up billboards letting people know these lawless acts are going on, but most of them already know. Since you don't think meeting violence with violence is a good idea, maybe you should distribute flowers to all potential victims. The bad guys will be so overwhelmed with getting flowers, they will forget they came to rob them. Doesn't this sound stupid to you, too?
NOW..............for my real answer. Kansas now allows citizens to obtain a carry permit; encourage good people to do just that. I live in Tulsa, OK (the state just south of you). We have had concealed carry for quite some time. I NEVER go out without my pistol, and neither should you. The only good thing about meeting violence with violence is that IT WORKS. Now, drop down and give me 20 for being so naive.

Answer 3

Usually people come onto the small towns to comit crimes because they can just drive away and not worry too much about a local cop recognizing their car.

You can try to set up a neighbourhood watch type program, report every strange thing you see to the police to help them crack down.

Answer 4

Get a concealed carry permit. Carry. Encourage everyone else to do so. Get your city to pass an ordinance requiring every legal law abiding citizen to be armed. The police cannot be everywhere and often are there after it is too late. Furthermore they are not legally required to defend you or yours.

Addition:
The criminals have already shown a propensity to disregard the laws so you telling them it won't be tolerated probably won't do very much. Who says that having a carry permit is meeting violence with more violence? Violence is often PREVENTED by a LAW abiding citizen being armed. Criminals love an unarmed victim.

Answer 5

Get a gun!!!!! I can't stress much ...get a gun!! protection depends only on you, not the cops. Police doesn't protect, if that was the case there wouldn't even be a single crime!!

Answer 6

i didn't read it i just read the question. get an alarm system.