The 20 or so counties of the Midland Empire, straddling both sides of the Missouri-Kansas state line, have seen far too many crimes against property and innocent people of late.

What’s disturbing is how one kind of crime becomes another. We don’t have personal knowledge of how these events unfolded, but we can get a pretty good idea by reading the news accounts in the News-Press:

* In late November, two people were identified after allegedly using a stolen credit card to buy more than $200 in goods. That’s bad enough, but the investigation suggested that they had taken the credit card in a St. Joseph home invasion, and that they might have ties to a second home invasion and minivan theft in Amazonia. The victims in that case were described as an elderly couple.

A third suspect was arrested in the Amazonia case. Before long, a third home invasion, this time in Mound City, was linked to the group. One of those arrested also was charged with possession of methamphetamine.

* Before that week was over, law enforcement officers took reports of bullets striking three homes in Ford City, in rural Gentry County. The shots apparently came from a passing vehicle. The next evening, shots struck two vehicles and three others were fired upon near King City and Union Star.

Two men were charged in those shootings, and they also were said to be implicated in thefts of four vehicles in Andrew County. Another man also later was charged in connection with the vehicle thefts.

We are shocked that people think they can get away with invading the homes of the elderly, shooting at homes or shooting at other cars traveling our highways. These crimes could have ended much worse than they did. While not pre-judging these defendants, we salute our area law enforcement officers for exhibiting close cooperation in developing evidence, making prompt arrests and bringing charges in these serious cases.

We invite you to join us in extending thanks to the sheriff’s departments in Andrew, Buchanan, DeKalb, Gentry and Holt counties; the St. Joseph Police Department and other local police involved; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; and local prosecutors and judges who acted swiftly to advance justice in these cases.