TNT letters: The real cause of auto theft; a peculiar photo choice; Dems soft on crime

Auto theft

Senator Ann Rivers in her July 31 TNT op-ed claimed that the increase in auto thefts reported in Washington had an obvious reason: the change in Washington’s police pursuit law.

Obvious — really? The problem with Rivers’ claim is that auto-theft increases exist across the country: a textbook spurious relationship.

Washington’s law cannot impact the entire country. What can? Auto-theft was declining before COVID-19. As COVID increased, so did auto theft. Washington has the additional factor of unhappy police whose reporting practices can impact data. They claim they are ”handcuffed” by the new law. Not so. The new law puts in place checks to reduce dangerous chases (only about 32% of which are for auto theft) that have killed and injured many innocent people and caused serious property damage.

Police can’t be expected to stop auto theft. Normally, only about 5% of auto thefts result in police pursuit — 5%! About 30% of those might result in actually stopping the car. Accordingly, of 4000 thefts, about .015% (60) might be resolved by police pursuit. Even if the 60 changes to zero we still have 3940 auto thefts independent of police pursuit.

Suppose police took the law seriously and 60 was reduced to 40 … and an innocent life was saved. Isn’t that a positive outcome?

John Alessio, Steilacoom,

Photo choice

I find your choice of a photo of a “happy” Sen. Kyrsten Sinema tied to the article on the Inflation Reduction Act to be lacking in judgment and understanding of the effort to pass this legislation.

Senator Sinema did nothing but attempt to impede the bill’s package and notably insisted twice on protections to hedge funds and other very large industries against tax increases. Suffice to say, the bill is designed to help middle America and once again, Sinema sided with the rich who notably fund her election campaigns.

You should have shown a photo of someone who worked hard to pass this bill. How about Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer?

Nancy M. Campbell, Tacoma

Wake up

We live in Bonney Lake. Although it is growing, this town still has a smallish feel. What keeps us up at night is the amount of crime. Specifically theft.

It is 3:40 a.m. and I am sitting outside on a chilly August morning waiting for criminals to show up. Yes, my neighbors and I are taking matters into our own hands. Two early mornings ago our neighbor had two cars stolen. Yesterday morning the thieves came back to take more. So now we sit outside waiting to see if they show up again.

They have a point: right now is a great time to be a criminal. No jail time, and even if you do get caught, in a couple hours you’re back out.

Our conclusion to this is two part:

First, Democrats are far more worried about political correctness as they see it than about doing what is good, right and just for the people of Washington.

Second, all it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing. So we sit and wait for criminals to show up and/or our government to wake up.

Andy Guertin, Bonney Lake