Lenient laws boosting crime, sergeant says

Feb. 21--LUCERNE VALLEY -- Increasingly lax laws such as the voter-passed Proposition 147 is making law enforcement's job more difficult and recidivism apparently more common, according to Lucerne Valley's top cop.

Sgt. Lonnie Siebert, who shared his thoughts during last Thursday's regular meeting of the Lucerne Valley Johnson Valley Municipal Advisory Council, said he and his deputies have noticed an increase in property crimes, some of them surprisingly brazen. He believes that Prop. 147, which made some crimes that were previously felonies into just misdemeanors, and Prop. 64, which legalized recreational marijuana use, have contributed to an atmosphere that breeds crime.

Not only have voter-approved laws added to the problem, but so has the actions of California's legislature, he said.

"Our legislature thinks it's more important to decriminalize things," the sergeant suggested.

Due to the increasingly lenient laws, the courts are forced to quickly release many who have perpetrated property crimes.

"If it's not a violent crime they kick them out before they're even arraigned," Sgt. Siebert said.

One example of a recent brazen crime in Lucerne Valley occurred during the early morning of Feb. 2 when thieves stole 1,109 gallons of diesel fuel from the Lucerne Valley Unified School District's maintenance yard on Sunset Road. In fact, Sgt. Siebert said, the thieves actually broke into the yard and pumped out two separate loads of at least 500 gallons of fuel each. They loaded their booty onto a trailer behind a dark-colored vehicle and took off.

Following the incident, neighbors said they heard some unusual sounds, but they didn't immediately contact the Sheriff's Department, he said.

Several days later, on Feb. 7, a family reported that their late parent's vacant home on Midway Avenue was hit by burglars.

"Everything in the place was stolen," Sgt. Siebert said.

Irreplaceable items were taken including military records, medals and other personal keepsakes.

Sgt. Siebert believes there is a misdirected notion to be "tolerant, sensitive and compassionate" at all costs. While those concepts are noble at the appropriate time and place, that attitude has added to leniency -- and an increase in local crime, he said.

"They say drug use affects no one but themselves (the drug user), but they have to feed their addiction."

To pay for their drug habit some turn to theft. Other results of unbridled drug use and addiction are domestic violence and child abuse, he added.

Sgt. Siebert encouraged the MAC to voice their concerns about local crime to their representatives and state legislature by sending letters.

"I think they (state legislators) need to hear from people who don't agree with them," he said.

He also encouraged residents to report crimes, large or small.

"Call us if you see something going on," Sgt. Siebert said. "We'd rather hear about it sooner than later. I'd rather be wanted than not needed."

To contact the Lucerne Valley Sheriff Substation regarding criminal activity, call (760) 248-7328.

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