The Northern Light

Aug. 15, 2005 was a typical day. The remaining whisper of summer still hung in the air, and the hours of night and day were beginning to even out. Nick, my fiancee, and I decided to call it a night and were resting peacefully at home when a sound broke the silence.

A simple horn honk and the screeching of a vehicle peeling out of the parking lot pulled Nick's and my attention away from our tranquil slumber. He looked out the window to check out the ruckus, and the question that followed would forever alter my sense of security: "Where is your car?"

Nick dashed out the door in pursuit of a vehicle that was long gone, while I called 911. I was notified that if we found the car we should call the police immediately. As for the present, they would put out a police broadcast in the hope that an officer would find it.

Yeah, and I'm the Easter Bunny.

Two days following, the car was indeed found; however, it was stripped to the frame. There were no doors, hood, trunk, lights, interior dash or even wheels. The thieves even went so far as to take the sun visors and oil dipstick.

The Anchorage Police Department was polite enough to call a tow truck to pick up the remains of the car, but that was all. The APD says they can't do anything about situations like these, as they are currently understaffed.

So I was understandably confused a few days later when I saw three of them around the corner relaxing at the park.

I guess lately they've been too busy with the high-profile shootings that have been taking over the media.

I have since learned that humans no longer file such police reports; instead it's an automated system that greets citizens instead.

The procedure is intended to make the experience easier, yet I don't know how speaking to a machine will improve any situation. On top of this, they actually make you pay for a copy of the report itself. I was under the impression that we already paid for our police services.

The kicker in this is that we, as working citizens, pay taxes, which contribute to the increasing salary that APD officers are being paid. Technically, we are paying for services that in this case, are not being received.

Between Nick's earlier break-in and the theft of my car, the two of us have been deprived of upwards of $15,000 in material goods since living in Anchorage. But we are just a small statistic of the larger picture. According to the APD Web site, there were more than 1,300 reports of stolen vehicles in 2005 in Anchorage alone. Based on reports per population, that means Anchorage is averaging almost one auto theft per 250 people.

I am a full-time student and work part time just to have extra money so I will not have to rely on mommy and daddy, a situation I know many students at UAA can sympathize with.

What is the point in these crooks not stepping it up like the rest of us? Why do people persist on violating others because they aren't willing to work for what they want?

When a vehicle is stolen, either taken to a chop shop or on a joy ride, these thieves can rest easy, knowing they can take the easy road of life and never suffer the legal consequences.

The worst part is, criminals will get away with every one of these crimes because no one in power is willing to do anything about it. Believe me, I have tried to get something done.

I figure, with the controversy over the proposed gas pipeline, what is the point if we aren't going to have vehicles left to drive anyway?

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