Out of sight, out of mind. This idiom can be used in various ways and one of them includes not talking about the elephant in the room. In this case is the escalating crime rate in Samoa.

The video that shows the daring robbery at Moamoa-Fou depicts the extent of the crime wave that has gripped the country but no one will talk about it because talking of such incidents depicts the Samoan society in a bad light. That is something that most people do not want.

So, what happens is, that no one will talk about it hoping that the incident will be forgotten and we will carry on with our lives, happily and holding hands like at the end of every fairy tale. News alert! Life is not a fairy tale and the crimes that are spoken about are happening.

What used to be our little piece of paradise is slowly turning into the devil's playground. Suspicious characters lurk opposite shops to check if people have locked their cars when going inside. There have been more reports of people pulling out guns during road rage.

There have also been reports of people getting robbed at gunpoint but nothing has been highlighted by the authorities. The first step in establishing that there is a problem is accepting the fact that there is a problem. In this case, accepting the fact that there has been an increase in crime.

Many people are quick to say that it is happening because people are living in poverty. Some have a theory that this is happening because of the meth influx. The word is that because meth has become the drug of choice now, people indulged in the habit are going to every length to ensure that they get their hands on it even through robbery and burglary.

Whatever the theories may be, the fact is that there is a noticeable increase in criminal activity related to theft and robberies. Just visit the court, the number one ranking offence is still sex-related but following closely behind are theft, burglaries, and robberies.

Crime has become a major part of society. Its costs and effects touch just about everyone to some degree. The types of costs and effects are widely varied. In addition, some costs are short-term while others last a lifetime. Of course, the ultimate cost is loss of life. Other costs to victims can include medical costs, property losses, and loss of income.

Losses to both victims and non-victims can also come in the form of increased security expenses including stronger locks, extra lighting, parking in more expensive secure lots, security alarms for homes and cars, and maintaining guard dogs. Considerable money is spent to avoid being victimised. Other types of expenses can include a victim or person fearful of crime moving to a new neighborhood, funeral expenses, legal fees, and loss of school days.

Some costs of crime are less tangible (not easily or precisely identified). These kinds of costs can include pain and suffering, and a lower quality of life. There are also the traumatic impacts on friends and the disruption of family. Behaviour can be forever changed and shaped by crime, whether it be weighing the risks of going to certain places or even the fear of making new friends.

Crime not only affects economic productivity when victims miss work, but communities also are affected by loss of tourism and retail sales. Drug abuse affects worker productivity, uses public funds for drug treatment programs and medical attention, and leads to criminal activity to support the expenses of a drug habit.

Communities and the government spend public funds for police departments, prisons and jails, courts, and treatment programs, including the salaries of prosecutors, judges, public defenders, social workers, security guards, and probation officers. The amount of time spent by victims, offenders, their families, and juries during court trials also takes away from community productivity.

The courts have also raised concerns about the crime rate and the age of offenders. They have highlighted that the family, church and village systems are failing as more and more youth are turning to a life of crime.

Punishment alone is not a deterrent, a deeper look must be taken as the courts have highlighted, then maybe we can curb crime, including drugs.