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WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1986
CARETAKERS AND WATCHMEN WERE VISITED BY POLICE PATROLS AND URGED TO REPORT ANY INFORMATION ON SUSPICIOUS PERSONS IMMEDIATELY VIA THE 999 SYSTEM.
+ THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME IS BEING INTRODUCED IN CENTRAL DISTRICT, AT PRESENT FOUR BUILDINGS ARE TAKING PART AND OTHERS ARE BEING ACTIVELY CANVASSED BY POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS AND CRIME PREVENTION OFFICERS, WHO ARE ALSO ON HAND TO GIVE ADVICE ON SECURITY MEASURES, HE SAID.
+ THE BEST DEFENCE IS PROPER SECURITY MEASURES BOTH BY OWNERS OF THE BUILDINGS AND BY THE TENANTS+.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GROUND FLOORS OF BUILDINGS MUST BE SECURED WITH REGULAR PATROL OR SURVEILLANCE OF CORRIDORS, LIFTS AND PASSAGEWAYS.
PREMISES SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO PROPER SECURITY MEASURES INCLUDING GOOD QUALITY LOCKS AND ALARM. VALUABLES SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN INSECURE OFFICES OVERNIGHT.
MR THOMAS SAID: INCREASING BURGLARIES OF COMMERCIAL PREMISES IS A WORRYING PHENOMENON NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG BUT ALSO IN OTHER PLACES SUCH AS BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.+
HE SAID COMMERCIAL PREMISES WERE A TEMPTING TARGET. AFTER OFFICE HOURS, THEY MIGHT OFFER A LARGE NUMBER OF UNOCCUPIED OFFICES AND A SUITABLY LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME FOR BURGLARS TO OPERATE UNDISTURBED.
OFTEN THE BURGLAR'S LIFE WAS MADE EVEN EASIER BY POOR SECURITY OR EVEN A TOTAL LACK OF SECURITY PROVISIONS, EITHER FOR THE BUILDING IN GENERAL OR FOR PARTICULAR OFFICES.
MR THOMAS TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE NUMBER OF REPORTED BURGLARIES IN CENTRAL DISTRICT INCREASED FROM 109 CASES TO 171 CASES IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF 1985, GIVING A RISE OF 57 PER CENT.
+THE INCREASE WAS MAINLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE RISE IN BURGLARIES IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS FROM 29 CASES TO 109 CASES,+ HE SAID.
+BURGLARIES OF SHOPS ALSO ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY WITH SEVEN ADDITIONAL CASES, TO A TOTAL OF 18, WHILE CASES INVOLVING RESIDENTIAL PREMISES FELL FROM 56 TO 36 CASES.+
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE RISE IN REPORTED BURGLARIES IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS WAS DISTORTED BY THE INCIDENCE OF MULTIPLE BURGLARIES.
/TWENTY