Sometimes in this line of work, you stop and shake your head and think.

The events over the past couple of weeks are evident of that. From May 25 news, Donald Arnder allegedly was shot to death by two men during a robbery at Eddie Zip Foods, to the news that the alleged get-away driver was race-car trained, I promise you, this is not only hard to believe, but it’s unthinkable.

I watched the TV news report as the suspected couple were brought in and out of court. Both used profanities at the news crew as they professed their love for each other. But, if you are stupid enough to take a person’s life, then you may not have the greatest morals.

Later the same night Arnder was killed, I was listening to the scanner as sirens filled the air. It was later that I learned that vandals had thrown metal pipes into two power stations for no particular reason it seems. The incident caused as many as 3,200 area residents to go without power overnight.

A few days later, I got word that an infant had accidentally drowned in a bathtub. The news was heartbreaking and my heart goes out to the family and to the rescuers who were there to witness the tragedy, especially ones with children.

I know the next thing that happened probably wasn’t traumatic for anyone, I could be wrong. A house that burned at 161 Critz St. causing the man inside to perish months earlier was set ablaze again at 2 a.m. on May 30. I heard the sirens that night as well. I jumped on the computer and typed in the address of the blaze to see that it was the same house I’d photographed months earlier burning. As it turns out, someone had torched the place even though the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department was set to burn it down at a later date for training purposes.

Then on Tuesday night, I was looking on Facebook and saw that there was breaking news that a man had been shot in the Flat Rock community. He’s still in the hospital recovering, but authorities won’t know who shot him until he is able to wake up and talk.

Yesterday I got a call from the sheriff reporting that a 22-year-old prostitute had been found after she floated up in pieces on a Louisiana shore. Police are questioning a couple in her death because they were last seen leaving a bar with her. The man used to reside in Surry County and was a registered sex offender.

Personally, I hope the crime spree slows down. I talked with Sheriff Graham Atkinson on Wednesday and he said these things tend to come in spurts. I for one can say we’ve had enough and are ready to ride a wave of calm for a while.

For everyone who has been touched by these crimes, my heart and prayers go out to you.

Mondee Tilley is a staff reporter with The Mount Airy News. She can be reached at mtilley@heartlandpublications.com at 719-1930.