XN000022-1984-06-10 — Page 7

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1984

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BEACH THIEVES WARNED

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THE HEAT IS ON NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE HOT SUMMER SUN BUT ALSO BECAUSE POLICE WILL COME DOWN HARD ON BEACH THIEVES.

**BEACH THEFTS TEND TO RISE ALONG WITH THE TEMPERATURE," THE DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, ABERDEEN, SUPERINTENDENT AU-YEUNG PAK-HUNG, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

SUPER INTENDENT AU-YEUNG, WHOSE DIVISION COVERS MOST OF THE POPULAR BEACHES ON THE SOURTHERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND, SAID POLICE WERE WELL-AWARE OF THIS SEASON AL PROBLEM.

HE SAID ABERDEEN POLICE RECEIVED 75 REPORTS OF BEACH THEFTS BETWEEN MAY AND NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. AND, DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WERE 46 CASES IN WHICH VALUABLES WERE STOLEN FROM VEHICLES PARKED NEAR THE BEACHES.

TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM, SPECIAL TEAMS FROM THE DIVISION WILL PATROL THE BEACHES AND ADJACENT AREAS.

THEY WILL STEP UP THEIR PATROLS DURING WEEK EN DS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS WHEN THE BEACHES ARE MORE CROWDED,'' SUPERINTENDENT AU-YEUNG SAID.

HE SAID THEY WILL ADOPT A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH TO DEAL WITH CRIMINALS OR POTENTIAL THIEVES.

''OUR APPROACH IS MAINLY PREVENTIVE AS MOST OF THESE PETTY CRIMES ARE COMMITTED BY CHILDREN OR YOUNGSTERS WHO ARE MOTIVATED BY GREED.

''THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF UNIFORM BRANCH OFFICERS ON THE BEACHES AND IN NEARBY AREAS WILL HELP TO DETER YOUNG OPPORTUNISTS FROM STEALING UNATTENDED VALUABLES ON THE BEACH, ** HE SAID.

ABERDEEN POLICE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERS TO POSE AS SWIMMERS AND MINGLE WITH BEACH-GOERS.

BUT MR AU-YEUNG STRESSED THAT BEACH-GOERS THEMSELVES HAVE AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN PREVENTING BEACH THEFTS.

HE SAID THEY CAN HELP POLICE BY BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL AND NOT BRING MORE CASH AND VALUABLES THAN REQUIRED WHEN THEY GO TO THE BEACHES.

To

''ALWAYS GO SWIMMING WITH A FRIEND SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE TURNS KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR VALUABLES. IT IS ADVISABLE TO USE LOCKER FACILITIES IF AVAILABLE. AND, DO NOT WEAR EXPENSIVE JEWELLERY BECAUSE THEY CAN BE EASILY LOST OR STOLEN, MR AU-YEUNG SAID.

HE SAID THAT THIEVES WHO PREY ON SWIMMERS AND SUN-BATHERS DO NOT CONFINE THEIR ATTENTION TO VALUABLES LYING UNATTENDED ON THE BEACHES.

/**THEY ALSO