To the editor:
I would like to have the opportunity to say a few words about what happened at my home this past week.
My wife and I were sleeping at 1 a.m., when our tabby cat Benny started meowing and it woke me up.
I noticed that Benny was looking out the back window. I looked outside expecting not to see anything, but that was not the case. What I saw was someone in my wife's car with a flashlight.
I opened the window and shouted and the man ran off. I quickly dialed 911, and in less than a minute Gloucester police were on scene; a couple minutes later, they caught the guy.
I just wanted to say a big thank you to the Gloucester Police Department for its quick response and the effort to search the area so quickly. The officers were very professional and helpful.
I also wanted to say a word of caution to the residents of Gloucester. Please make the effort to lock your car doors at night. Fortunately, we lost nothing, but there's nothing more irritating to have to deal with than someone rifling through your personal property, not to mention trespassing on to your private property at the same time.
Also, if you can, get motion sensor lights. It was dark where we parked our cars.
How sad is it when individuals have to trespass on private property, and invade personal property that you worked hard for, all to, in many cases, feed their drug habits.
The people of Gloucester must remain very vigilant and make the effort to protect what they have worked hard for. I used to have pity for people whose lives were destroyed by drug use, but when they make the decision to make you a victim, that changes everything.
Once again, the people of Gloucester should be proud of their Police Department.
And — who knew — I had a watch cat!
Dean Burgess
Gloucester
