Police-1957-1958 — Page 28

Robbery

88. The number of robberies reported varied little from the figure for the previous year, being 126 as compared with 128. The number of cases in which firearms were carried rose from three to eight. Property to the value of $105,962 was stolen and property valued at $18,502 was recovered.

89. Very few of the robberies committed during the year showed the careful planning and execution which is the hallmark of the organized gang. The majority of the offences were committed by hooligans who waylaid pedestrians in isolated areas or darkened staircases and took cash and items of personal property.

Larceny from the Person

90. The general classification of larceny from the person includes both snatching and pickpocketing offences. There has been a substantial reduction in these offences which have been particularly prevalent for several years. In all 1,175 offences were recorded, the lowest figure since 1949/50 and a decrease of 285 from last year. Of this total 49% were cleared up. Nearly three-quarters of these offences occurred in Kowloon. Larceny from Dwelling

91. The total of 892 offences of larceny from dwelling was a reduction of 252 from the previous year. This is the lowest total for offences of larceny from dwelling since 1948/49 when the total was 719. Property to the value of $285,544 was stolen, of which property valued at $24,352 was recovered.

Larceny of Motor Vehicles

92. There were 260 reports of motor vehicles having been taken away without the owner's consent. Many of these vehicles were taken away by joy-riders and were subsequently recovered; in other cases. vehicles were seized by motor car firms because hire purchase instal- ments had lapsed. Only reports of vehicles which are not discovered within a seventy two hour period are classified as crime, and of the 260 reported missing 215 were found within that time. There were five motor cars still missing on the 31st March, 1958.

Larceny from Vehicle

93. The number of cases reported, 703, was slightly less than last year. This type of offence could easily be reduced if members of the public would not tempt the potential thief by leaving articles of value in unlocked and unattended vehicles.

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