WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1987
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VEHICLE THEFT CASES DECLINE
WITH THE
IN
CO-OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC, POLICE EFFORTS COMBATING VEHICLE THEFT ARE HAVING SOME SUCCESS, SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES REPORTED MISSING EACH YEAR HAD BEEN DECLINING STEADILY FROM 5,353 IN 1982 ΤΟ 2,607 IN 1985 AND 2,407 IN 1986.
BASED ON THE FIRST NINE MONTHS, THE FIGURE FOR THIS YEAR SHOULD BE AROUND 2,270, HE SAID.
VEHICLES
MR JEAFFRESON NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF MISSING SUBSEQUENTLY CLASSIFIED AS "THEFT OF VEHICLES" HAD ALSO DECLINED STEADILY FROM 1,532 IN 1982 TO 589 IN 1985 AND 421 IN 1986.
THIS CLASSIFICATION WAS DIFFERENT TO THE OFFENCE OF TEMPORARILY TAKING SOMEONE ELSE'S VEHICLE WITHOUT PERMISSION BUT WITH NO INTENTION TO KEEP IT, WHICH WAS CLASSIFIED IN LAW AS "TAKING A CONVEYANCE WITHOUT AUTHORITY", HE SAID.
NOTING THAT MANY VEHICLES WERE TAKEN BECAUSE OF CARELESSNESS ON THE PART OF THE OWNER, MR JEAFFRESON SAID VARIOUS MEASURES HAD BEEN TAKEN TO COMBAT THE CRIME.
"BY MEANS OF PUBLICITY, POLICE CRIME PREVENTION SEMINARS AND DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGNS, THE PUBLIC ARE BEING CONSTANTLY URGED TO LOCK UP THEIR VEHICLES PROPERLY AND ΤΟ TAKE THE IGNITION KEYS AWAY WITH THEM, HE SAID.
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MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE POLICE WERE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MISSING VEHICLES AND PAID SPECIAL ATTENTION TO VEHICLES PARKED IN REMOTE OR UNUSUAL PLACES.
"THEY MAKE FREQUENT CHECKS ON BACK STREET GARAGES, VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS AND SPARE PARTS OUTLETS FOR MISSING VEHICLES AND STOLEN VEHICLE.PARTS, HE SAID.
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MR JEAFPRESON ALSO SAID THAT THE POLICE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU WAS IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH LOCAL MOTOR VEHICLE DISTRIBUTORS.
OF
"IN RECENT YEARS, MANUFACTURERS HAVE ADDED TO THE SECURITY PRIVATE CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES BY, FOR EXAMPLE, IMPROVING IGNITION AND LOCKING SYSTEMS, HE ADDED.
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