Rich Kinsey column linking burglaries to heroin use was reckless
With regard to Rich Kinsey's article on recent Washtenaw County burglaries, much of what was written is reckless. Immediately pointing toward addiction to heroin, and setting male and female stereotypes for drug addicts, based on reports of break-ins is a giant leap.
People steal for money and property for all sorts of uses, driven primarily by economic need, more often than not for basic needs like feeding kids or paying bills. And even addicts can steal for food and gas money as well as drugs.
However, addicts tend to first steal from family, friends and other easy targets that will not turn them in to authorities. They rarely take on aggressive behavior like break-ins that will lead directly to jail.
To link female heroin addiction to adult entertainment (i.e. stripper in his terminology), and then prostitution, is not only sensationalism, it is sexist blather.
To publish this type of conjecture is extremely poor journalism, that fails to wait for facts, and preys on impressionable readers. As a former detective, it also shows Mr. Kinsey is ignorant in social behavioral science. John T. Hargenrader Brighton
Comments
Jim
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 : 11:11 p.m.
Mr. Hargenrader, I'm not a journalist nor do i pretend to be. I also haven't read Mr. Kinsey's article. However, if he is attempting to link burglaries, larceny or robbery to drug addicts he is correct a great deal of the time. Specifically if mentioning the more addictive drugs such as heroin, meth or Oxycontin. Both male and female addicts commit those crimes for those reasons. Typically the female will only do so if with a male counterpart. Oftentimes the female addict will turn tricks to fund their addiction also. Craigslist makes this even easier. I've been in the LE field for some time and as its not sexist in the least. its simply an observation based on years of talking to the people involved. I'm thankful that the world you live in is so removed from this problem. But stating the fact that crime, drug addiction and prostitution are directly linked (most of the time) is anything but reckless.
jcj
Wed, Jun 2, 2010 : 7:43 p.m.
"driven primarily by economic need, more often than not for basic needs like feeding kids or paying bills." Are you kidding me? There were about 35 reports of home invasion or larceny for the week of May 23-29. You really think more often than not it was to "pay the bills" or "feed the kids"? I don't know what world you are living in or what makes you an expert on crime. But from where I sit most of the thefts are for drugs, alcohol, pot, But I would bet ( can't prove or disprove) that not more than 10% of the thieves fed any kids or paid any bills with there loot!
Basic Bob
Mon, May 31, 2010 : 8:31 a.m.
There seems to be a bias by the police against illegal drug users, who completely overlook the crimes caused by legal drug users, such as alcohol and prescription drugs. Only heroin addict commit break-ins. If one took a hit off a joint last week one can be charged with driving under the influence today. But one can mix Oxycodone and Jack Daniels with none of the ill effects. Enjoy your holiday drinking binge.
stunhsif
Sun, May 30, 2010 : 11:01 p.m.
I totally agree with you John, I have tired quickly of his weekly column in A2.com and the newspaper. Way too much bloviating and self congratulatory type rhetoric.
John Hritz
Sun, May 30, 2010 : 1:26 p.m.
With respect, I'm not seeing any data in either of these posts.