Sheriff warns locals of coming crime wave

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Although the city enjoyed one of the lowest crime

rates in the county last year, the good times probably will end around

2005, a top law enforcement official said.

Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona said a new generation of troublemakers

could be hitting their stride five years from now, resulting in the level

of crime rising “dramatically.”

Speaking at the mayor’s breakfast last Thursday, Carona explained that

most of the world’s crime is committed by young men between the ages of

16 and 25. Studies show there will be so many people in that age group in

five years that they will create the “second largest mass of humanity,”

right behind the Baby Boom generation, which was responsible for the last

crime wave, he said. Following so closely on the heels of the Baby

Boomers, this new generation has been dubbed the “Echo Boomers,” he said.

Huntington Beach Police Chief Ron Lowenberg said boys that age typically

have lots of “nervous energy,” which sometimes adds up to no good.

“People do risky things when they’re young,” he said.

Some argue that there’s little that can be done to stop the mischief --

boys will be boys after all.

“They do the things that they’ve done for the last couple of hundred

years,” Mayor Dave Garofalo said.

Adding more jail cells and officers is not the answer, Carona said. But

reaching young people before they turn bad will help stem the coming

crime wave.

“You want to change the future, you invest in a child today,” Carona

said.

Funding after-school programs such as sports or art classes is a great

way to keep youngsters out of trouble, Huntington Beach Police Lt. Chuck

Thomas said. These programs help to build self-esteem and instill

confidence -- qualities often found lacking in criminals, he said.

With the Echo Boomers on the way, everyone needs to work together to

teach children right from wrong, Carona said.

“The motivation is up to you to make a difference in the community,” he

said.