Is anybody else incensed with the crime rate in this city ? I was born and raised here (until 1985), moved to California for 20 years and moved back in 2005. In my 20 years in CA I had one item stolen which was a bicycle I left unlocked in front of a 7/11 which was taken while I was waiting in line (I just barely missed the guy when I ran out the door). Since moving back in 2005 I have had my door window smashed and car burglarized at Church, My garage has been burglarized, just the other day I had a Bicycle stolen which was locked in the racks (see letter below) at the west entrance at VRC. My Mother works for a local retail business downtown and they had to build a separate room in order to house bicycles due to thieves. I understand a "police state" is not an option, but the press is woefully lacking in covering this issue. The management at Valley River Center has no cameras, no warning signs (to thieves or customers) and seems to do very little to inhibit thieves, which in my view is completely unacceptable.

March 26, 2009

Valley River Center Management Office              

293 Valley River Center Drive

Eugene OR 97401                            

To Whom It May Concern,

On Monday March 23 2009, at approximately 12pm, I parked and locked my bicycle in the racks with a 3/8 inch cable lock near the West entrance (near Gottschalks) of the Mall. I entered the store, went directly to Sports Authority to look at some portable basketball equipment I was interested in, was in the mall for approximately 20 minutes, and upon leaving I discovered my bicycle was stolen.

Needless to say I was shocked  that this could occur in such a short period of time, and upon further consideration I have several questions.

1.       Why is there no security surveillance equipment or signs in the area?

2.       Why is there no signs posted alerting customers of the potential dangers ?

 Valley River Center is obviously being “cased” by thieves, and I refuse to believe this to be an isolated incident. I also do not believe it to be a quantum leap for me to assume Mall Management fears that by alerting customers and/or installing security cameras and/or signs warning thieves, that this would destroy or jeopardize the false image the mall has portrayed as being a “family friendly environment“ into what it really  is, which is a haven for thieves and hoodlums that prey on legitimate consumers.

In case you hadn’t noticed “American Consumerism” is in a dire situation at present and the days of “shopping till you drop” are over. Paying customers just may be a bit more of a valuable commodity in the future and you can rest assured Valley River Center or its merchants will not receive another penny from my household.

Regards,

Cc: KMTR News Director

      KEZI News Director          

      KVAL News Director

      Eugene Register Guard News Director

Hoo boy, Clueless! You just posted on one of the "hot button" topics around here, and you will shortly be bombarded with pages and pages of discussion on your subject. (Unless everyone is tired of the subject). I'll supply a 'premptive strike' and sum up all the info:  There ARE NO POLICE in Eugene. (functionally that is). And if anyone wants to debate numbers, we'll just skip that and go to the next problem: If anyone IS arrested, (for anything short of a felony), they are usually released before the arresting Officer is done with his paperwork. This is because the Jail space is about one tenth what it needs to be for a city the size of Eugene. And no jail will ever be built/enlarged because of the 'counterculture' control of Eugene government - you know the kind: "You don't solve anything by putting people in jail" combined with a general  "Down with the Pigs" attitude.

   You might be interested that Springfield ranks as one of the highest cities for the rate of vehicular theft in Oregon. Do you know how many car thieves there are in Springfield.........Three! When one gets arrested, and released minutes later, he then steals another car to get home. This is why Springfield is building THEIR OWN Jail - they have realized that the County Jail is not getting the job done.

   For the picky people on this board, I will disclose that my statements have not been researched for their current accuracy, but the 'gist' of my post is all too true.

Wait until the crime rate get's REALLY bad. I just put up a fence on my property and am going to buy a gun before the right is taken away.

There are plenty of law abiding citizens that live here, but the pathetic local press won't report on the true crime rate as it will "harm the public perception" of Eugene being a "family friendly" place to live - Who's kidding who ? I moved back here because it's cheaper than California. It all boils down to dollars and cents when it comes to issues of public perception (especially those that involve the corporate media and public debate). Many that live here will say "then leave", well OK perhaps I will, but I will take my 90k salary (which is paid to me by an employer out of state, which is 100% invested in the local economy) with me, which will further exacerbate the problem which most people are completely clueless about. They envision a society where we are all "at one" singing Coombayyaa around the downtown area fountain.I got news for you, as Jim Torrey said, "you either do something about the crime rate or the law abiding citizens are going to leave". Even though the people in Southern Oregon have to deal with Meth addicts and other lowlifes but at least the citizens have a clue. What is our big story and play ? The Matthew Knight arena...Oh Boy, now there is something that is going to transform our downtown area. 

Wake up people of Eugene - When are you (and the press) going to start "getting it"...