From Cape Charles FB – When staff went to Cape Charles Beach this morning at 8 am it was noticed that all but 1 of the 30 loaner life jackets at our life jacket station were gone. Please be sure to return jackets at the end of the day and not take them home. This is a service we take pride in but it is difficult when others abuse it. Please also note staff also pulled multiple tents, chairs, kayaks, and other equipment that was left set up unattended on the beach this morning and all items were left at this station.
The bottom line, taking public property and not returning it could be considered some form of theft– it is definitely unethical.
The life jacket stand is a shared resource; public property, whether it’s parks, libraries, infrastructure, or other communal spaces, is intended for the benefit and use of the entire community. Taking public property deprives others of the opportunity to utilize and enjoy those resources.
The life jacket stand is funded by taxpayers’ money, and the maintenance and upkeep of these resources also require public funds. When public property is stolen or damaged, it puts an additional burden on the community to replace or repair what was taken, diverting resources from other places.
Many here on the Shore are already dubious of vacationers. Doing stuff like this erodes the already thin layer of trust, creates a sense of insecurity, and damages the already tenuous social cohesion of Cape Charles summers.
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Taking advantage of what is offered will ultimately lead to its ending .
I hope this program continues. For if it saves one life it is well worth the frustration to keep it funded.
I will also go a step further and ask the town to come up with stenciling to help identify the life vest as property of Cape Charles.
I’m hopeful that this was just an oversight on behalf of the parents getting their belongings mixed up with the town’s life vest.
Funding can be done at town functions like the concerts or Crabby Blues festival. Something as simple as jar on a stand saying funding for life vest.
Another solution solved by common sense.
Maybe change the wording on the sign that says please return life jackets when you’re done to a bright red color might help a little. All the black letters kind of blend and join one another the bright Red might catch their eye….
Maybe you can highlight it with your red crayons.
If you did not bring it with you or buy it while down here taking something that is not yours is stealing.
It is a sad time when you have to steal from such a worthy cause! These life jackets are put there for the protection of all kids. You just don’t forget to return a life jacket as your kid isn’t needing to wear it when you are leaving the beach. Thoughtless actions of few affect many! Perhaps the town needs to install cameras and/or a fee to use the life jackets with said fee returned when you return the life jacket!