When Local News Goes Regional

[XLFD]

  If a crime wave hit the Ludington community during the heart of tourist season, would it make a sound in our local news?  The answer seems to be a resounding "no".  A report from TV 9 & 10 News that aired last night at six o'clock has it that in the City of Ludington more than 30 cars have been vandalized, it starts off with:  "a Northern Michigan community wants to know why someone vandalized more than 30 cars."

But this is the point:  I read the local paper and get Mason County Press updates on my Facebook page, and I even live among the affected places, yet I was not aware of this until I seen it from a report by a TV station based out of Traverse City and Cadillac.   The Ludington Police Department's Facebook page has no guidance since June 26, when it wished Sergeant McMellen a happy retirement.

Chances are a couple of victims of this rash of violence reported the extent of the problem to the local "news sources" mentioned and got no response.  Reporting such crimes does not help the local tourist industry, instead they will cover how well Friday Night Live went, and what the next weekend's events will be. 

This link has a video where the news team out of Cadillac comes and interviews some victims, because apparently the police authorities are out searching for clues and leaving notes on windshields informing people they have just been ransacked.  The story is given after the picture of a Ludington slashed tire.   

Yet look at the two local websites and newspaper and there is nothing mentioned about it as of now in the MCP, just the usual news of prosecuting those few people that actually get caught, and other friendly news.  The COLDNews recently had a story that downplayed the extent significantly, so as to give the impression that it was an isolated event (COLDNews story), and that thefts were the issue, not vandalism.  Which contradicts TV 9 & 10 News, which reported that only three or four people reported things missing, but "Over Thirty Vehicles Vandalized In Mason County", which is its title.   

Police are looking for whoever is responsible for ripping through more than 30 cars and trucks, 14 of them had their tires slashed.

The cars were vandalized in the city of Ludington in Mason County.

New at six, 9&10's Cody Boyer spoke to some of the victims today and has more details.

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People in Ludington are scared they might be hit next.

Someone is opening up their cars and taking out their things in search of anything valuable.

While police keep up the search, the community is opening up about the crimes.

"This is the first time something like this has ever happened," said Jaci Fredericks, who owns one of the ransacked cars.

Many living in Ludington are saying the same thing today.

Jaci Frederick's car was one of more than 30 ransacked in just the last two days.

"I got up and I noticed a white card underneath my windshield wiper," Fredericks said.

That card was from the police telling her that the inside of her car had been torn apart.

Now, Jaci is looking for answers.

"What are these kids looking for?" Fredericks said. "Parents need to keep an eye on their kids, not let them roam the streets at all hours of the night."

"It's very unusual," said Dean McClellan, another Ludington resident who said he was concerned about the crimes. "Normally, we have the high school right straight across the street and normally, there's a pretty good police presence here."

But it's happened here and with slashed tires now appearing across town, Jaci and others hope answers come soon.

"Normally, I feel very safe in this neighborhood and all the neighbors here tend to watch out for one another which is a very good thing," McClellan said.

Only three or four of the cars have had reports of missing items as of this morning.

Most of the cars were left unlocked.

http://www.9and10news.com/story/26037937/over-thirty-vehicles-vanda...

[Nikki Forbes]

I remember when first moving to Ludington (to live) in 2011, and for the next three years, people laughing at me for locking my doors - car or home!   Well... consequences follow bad management.. or good management - either one show up relatively.   Ethics-to-consequences is a law in itself.   Go figure.