XN000022-1985-01-27 — Page 6

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 1985

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BURGLARY AND CAR CRIME WARRANTS CONCERN ******

BURGLARIES AND VEHICLE CRIME MUST BE THE SUBJECT OF PARTICULAR ATTENTION WHEN CONSIDERING CRIME PREVENTION, MR MARTIN BROWN, POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER OF TUEN MUN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE TUEN MUN CRIME PREVENTION CARNIVAL HELD AT TUEN MUN PLAYGROUND THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON, MR BROWN SAID THAT THE TWO CRIMES HAD PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO THE DISTRICT.

DURING 1984 THERE WERE 529 REPORTED CASES OF BURGLARY IN TUEN MUN DISTRICT. THIS COMPARES WITH 472 CASES IN 1983, AN INCREASE OF 12 PER CENT AND IT ALSO REPRESENTS 19 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL REPORTED CRIME FOR THE YEAR,

''TYPICALLY COMMERCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL PREMISES ARE THE TARGET FOR NIGHT-TIME BURGLARIES WHILST RESIDENTIAL PREMISES ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE DURING THE DAY WHEN THE CCCUPANTS ARE AWAY FROM HOME, MR BROWN SAID.

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ON THE NUMBER OF THEFT FROM AND THEFT OF VEHICLE IN TUEN MUN, MR BROWN SAID THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 569 CASES IN 1984, A DECREASE OF 12 PER CENT FROM PREVIOUS YEAR. BUT, IT STILL REMAINED THE SUBJECT OF CONCERN AS IT REPRESENTED 21 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL REPORTED CRIME FOR THE YEAR.

HE SAID, IN MANY OF THESE CASES SIMPLE, COMMON SENSE, MEASURES COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE CRIME. A KITCHEN WINDOW LEFT OPEN AT NIGHT NEXT TO A DRAINPIPE OR WHEN THE BUILDING IS UNDER REDECORATION AND SCAFFOLDING IS ERECTED. VALUABLE PROPERTY LEFT VISIBLE ON THE BACK SEAT OF A CAR WHICH IS THEN LEFT UNATTENDED.

'TO BRING HOME THE CRIME PREVENTION MESSAGE A TOTAL OF ONE MILLION CRIME PREVENTION WALLET CARDS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY. THESE CARDS CONTAIN ADVICE ON PERSONAL SECURITY, HOME SECURITY AND CAR SECURITY.

''THEY ALSO CONTAIN INFORMATION ON HOW MOST QUICKLY TO OBTAIN HELP FROM THE POLICE AND THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE LOCAL CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER WHO IS IN A POSITION TO GIVE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AS TO HOW YOU SHOULD PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY," HE SAID.

EMPHASISING THE THEME OF THE PREVENT CRIME CAMPAIGN POLICE AND THE PEOPLE FIGHTING CRIME TOGETHER, MR BROWN STRESSED THAT IT WAS EVERY INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT HIMSELF OR HERSELF AS FAR AS POSSIBLE FROM THREATS TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY.

PROVISIONAL FIGURES SHOW A TOTAL OF 2 720 REPORTED CRIMES IN 1984, A DECREASE OF 7.4 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH 1983.

/UR BROWN