At the beginning of February 2020, Seven Lakes began to see an unusual spike in crime and suspicious activity. After a used needle was found discarded along the road, more reports of needles and syringes soon followed suit. In the following months, reports of trespassing, property damage, and theft began to steadily increase at an alarming rate.
The damages within Seven Lakes were small at first, but became more serious as summer progressed, eventually leading to a report of a golf cart being stolen from a resident’s home.
“Many petty crimes, especially in areas like Seven Lakes and Pinehurst, are typically committed by teenagers,” said a detective from a Moore County police station. “It’s a slippery slope, though. Parents need to be aware of what their children are doing, no matter how young or how old. ‘Good kids’ can get out of hand fast.”
Towards the end of July 2020, Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields publicly announced the drug-related arrests of twenty-nine individuals in Robbins, Eagle Springs, Carthage, Vass, and West End—the areas surrounding Seven Lakes. Together, the twenty-nine individuals amassed two hundred eleven charges for the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, and illegal distribution of prescription drugs.
In light of the nationwide drug crisis, the detective recommends being aware of your surroundings, including your neighbors, family, friends, workers in your area, and most importantly, your children.
Many of the individuals in the recent Moore County arrests were additionally charged with Misdemeanor Child Abuse and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile—not charges to be taken lightly.
“Children, especially teens, may be especially susceptible to peer influence and influence from adults, even if they don’t know them. Make sure you know where your kids are and what kind of company they’re keeping,” cautioned the detective.
Drug usage and distribution can rapidly become highly destructive to a community. Properties of drug abusers may deteriorate, and when combined with an increased crime rate, local property values can potentially plummet. When a neighborhood begins to depreciate, long-time residents may no longer feel safe and make the decision to relocate.
According to Recovery Centers for America, “Drug and alcohol use in the United States costs $1.45 trillion in economic loss and societal harm annually.” The statistics continue to show that this is including “$578 billion in economic loss and $874 billion dollars in societal harm through quality of life adjustment and premature loss of life.”
As always, Seven Lakes residents are urged to contact law enforcement if they see or hear anything suspicious. Security systems and surveillance cameras are becoming more popular, and may prove invaluable in aiding law enforcement if a crime is committed on your property. “Don’t hesitate to do the right thing,” said the detective. “It’s better to be on the safe side.”
