Three women robbed at gunpoint
Three women walking home Saturday night were robbed at gun point less than 50 yards from their destination.
The women were about to turn the corner of a darkened street when a masked man with a shotgun walked from the shadows. He pointed the gun at the startled citizens and demanded all the cash they had with them. All three complied and were released after being told not to inform police. The stranger, at that point, leisurely strolled away, laughing, making little effort to conceal his weapon.
The women call the Columbus City Police immediately. The investigating officers provided calming conversation while collecting information. The officers remained pleasant, calm, and vigilant during the entire process.
It is a horrible thing to be in this type of situation, to wonder on a second’s notice whether or not you will die before you make those last 20 steps home.
This experience has provided insight into the problem Columbus is facing. At night, many of the city’s streets are darkened. Streets, lined with residences, filled with families, are being used as prime locations to rob, threaten, and terrify unsuspecting citizens while they go about their innocent daily activities. Darkened homes along inadequately lit streets are being used as hiding places for criminals to victimize passers-by.
The citizens of Columbus have become easy targets right outside of their own homes.
The city of Columbus is called home by many residents raising children. If an assailant happened to pick your driveway, forces forbid, what would happen if a wife, a husband, even a child left the house to simply take out the trash?
Perhaps these types of crimes would be less likely to happen if there were not so many areas in which these predators could conceal themselves.
I implore all of the Columbus residents to take precaution and take action. Leave your porch lights on to try to provide more light in shadowed yards.
Citizens can write the Columbus mayor, Robert Smith and speak to Chief of Police Oscar Lewis. Also citizens can attend city council meetings. Columbus residents should use one of the many options available to speak out about the poor lighting conditions of the city. Make this city safe for you and your children.
Citizens are what makes a city. When having issues dealing with their safety, the residents of Columbus have every ounce of influence needed to have those issues corrected. The life of every citizen matters, and all of our voices, your voices, will be heeded if we speak up.
Emily Rogers
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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