Police step up action as rising burglary trend causes concern

The peak season for burglaries, Sai Kung’s most common crime, is upon us. Senior Inspector Jacky Chan says he worries about the rising trend in cases overall and about signs daylight burglaries are increasing. Sai Kung police station is issuing free anti-burglar alarms. It is also stepping up patrols in town and around outlying villagers.

Jacky said he has personally attended every burglary scene since he became local police operations boss. Ninety per cent of the victims’ homes had no anti-intruder security at all. Simple cheap devices you can buy in hardware stores or make yourself can jam windows so a burglar cannot get in. For example if you buy a thin piece of metal that exactly fits a window’s runner when it is closed no one will be able to enter.

The burglar alarms the police are handing out are small battery-operated devices that can be fitted to doors and windows. If someone enters while you are sleeping, the alarm will start shrieking. The police station has about 500 of these devices available free. Jacky and his officers have been walking town streets and village roads handing out crime-warning leaflets and doling out the alarms. If you walk into the station’s report room and they still have stock, officers will give you free alarms.

Jacky cited an offence at Uk Tau in the country park on 10 December as an example of concern burglars may be striking in daylight. An alert British lady spotted a man she thought was suspicious walking past her garden. She shouted at him and dialled 999. The man scarpered. The lady said he climbed into a red taxi and drove it away himself. Jacky said CID investigators have good leads. They expect to make an arrest soon.

The peak season for burglaries runs from now until Chinese New Year.

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