XN000022-1990-12-05 — Page 5

POLICE THREE-PRONGED ACTION TO TACKLE CAR THEFT PROBLEM

POLICE THE INTELLIGENCE

HAVE STEPPED

HON ALISTAIR

UP

INVESTIGATIONS

OBTAIN

TO THE SECRETARY ON CRIMINAL GROUPS ENGAGED IN CAR THEFT,

ASPREY, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE FOR

THE SECURITY, COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MICHAEL CHENG, MR ASPREY SAID LARGE- BASED ON THIS INTELLIGENCE, THE POLICE HAD MOUNTED A NUMBER OF

WHICH HAD ON LAND AND AT SEA,

RESULTED SCALE OPERATIONS, BOTH ARRESTS, THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN VEHICLES, AND THE BREAKING UP OF OF THE CAR THEFT SYNDICATES.

IN 8OME

"THEY HAVE ALSO STEPPED UP PUBLICITY ON ANTI-THEFT PRECAUTIONS, MEASURES, APPROACHED THE MANAGEMENT OF CARPARKS TO ADVISE ON SECURITY AND INCREASED CHECKS ON VEHICLES AT ROAD BLOCKS,

WITH POLICE

"THEY ARE ALSO MAINTAINING HIGH LEVEL LIAISON AUTHORITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION TO SECURE COOPERATION

HE SAID. CLOSING OFF THE MARKETS FOR STOLEN VEHICLES,

VEHICLES

THE THE

MR ASPREY SAID ALTHOUGH THE GREAT MAJORITY OF STOLEN WERE RECOVERED, THIS YEAR HAD SEEN BOTH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OVERALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES STOLEN, AND A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN

FROM OVER 80 PER CENT IN THE RECOVERED PROPORTION SUBSEQUENTLY PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS TO 65 SOME PER CENT SO FAR THIS YEAR.

▬▬

"THIS IS A MATTER OF GREAT CONCERN, HE SAID.

ON STEAL,

SAID CARS WERK AS ΤΟ THE CAUSES OF THIS PROBLEM, MR ASPREY VALUE ITEMS, WHICH WERE FOR MOST OF THE TIME LEFT UNATTENDED STREETS OR IN CARPARKS. THEY WERE ALSO RELATIVELY EASY TO PARTICULARLY IF THE OWNERS TOOK INADEQUATE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS.

HIGH THE

OTHER

COUNTRIES

"THERE IS A READY MARKET FOR QUALITY CARS IN IN THIS REGION.

"CARS ARE

THEREFORE

A TEMPTING TARGET FOR

THIEVES, AND

IN

PARTICULAR FOR CRIME SYNDICATES WHO HAVE THE ORGANISATION AND CONTACTS TO ARRANGE MODIFICATION, SHIPPING AND RESALE," MR ASPREY ADDED.

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