In response to several incidents of break-ins, vandalism and a recent arson incident, the Rockland Police Department has issued a public service announcement requesting that the public call law enforcement to come forward as witnesses.
According to Rockland Police, during their recent investigations, several witnesses who either saw or heard something did not call law enforcement.
“While each [witness] had their own reasons, we found that often witnesses are under the false assumption that ‘someone else will see or hear this and call it in’ or ‘I don’t want to be a bother to the officers,'” Rockland Police stated in their announcement, posted to their social media.
Rockland Police said that while they appreciate witnesses coming forward after the fact, the quicker witnesses report ongoing criminal activity to police “the better chance we have of stopping it and solving the case.”
“Public safety takes the whole community working together and we are ALWAYS here to take your calls and investigate possible incidents of violence or property damage,” the department stated. “We are much less effective without your eyes and ears helping us keep our community safe.”
Most recently, a woman was arrested earlier this week in connection to the theft of a canoe at the Rockland Public Landing and a series of vandalism incidents in the city’s South End.
Last week, Rockland Police responded to railroad tracks near Pleasant Street and discovered several “Molotov cocktail” type incendiary devices on the tracks.
On July 3, police responded to Rockland’s South End for a report of three juveniles allegedly involved in breaking into a residence and a string of motor vehicle burglaries.
Two of the juveniles were arrested on charges including burglary, motor vehicle burglary, refusing to submit to arrest and criminal mischief.
Forty and fifty years ago Rockland was one tough town. Perhaps it has now decided to adopt the Portland model and return to the bad old days.