Cops launch crime initiative to combat burglary
(CNS): With well over 400 burglaries committed in the Cayman Islands this year, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) is launching a new burglary prevention campaign andurging residents and business owners to join forces with the police. Chief Inspector Frank Owens said the number of homes and businesses being violated by burglars is still a serious concern, even though the figure fell this year. As a result, in an effort to make people more security conscious and reduce the opportunities available to burglars to convert stolen goods into cash, the RCIPS is launching a crime prevention initiative later this week. Neighbourhood officers will be at various locations on Friday launching a new scheme to register valuables with the police.
An RCIPS spokesperson said that police will be available to meet with members of the community and discuss crime prevention issues. They will also encourage people to take part in the new scheme where they can voluntarily lodge details of their valuables and electronics with the RCIPS. The collation of property details – to include make, model, serial number and descriptions – will, if a burglary does take place, help officers quickly track down that property when the burglar attempts to make a fast buck by selling it on.
“From 1st January to 25th November this year 408 burglaries were reported in the Cayman Islands, representing a decrease of 43 when compared to the same period in 2011,” Owens said. “The number of homes and businesses being violated by burglars is still a serious concern for the RCIPS. That’s why it’s important that we continue to do all that we can to make sure people are provided with the right information about how to make their homes and business more secure. This is about us all working together to reduce the opportunities available to would-be burglars."
He said simple crime prevention steps can make premises less vulnerable and it will reducethe opportunities available to burglars. “If a break-in does occur, then the database of property will help cut off the options available for burglars to sell on their stolen goods. That, in turn means that the odds of them being caught and hauled before the courts greatly increase.”
People who attend the event on Friday will be provided with property forms – aptly named NAB forms (Neighbours Against Burglary). They will be asked to complete the forms and then return them to their local police station. The information will be logged in a database, which will be available to the RCIPS investigation teams.
Officers will also be taking steps to encourage retailers to maintain a database of the property they sell, again to include serial numbers. In addition, they will be asked to include serial numbers on the receipts of the goods they sell. Officers will be visiting business premises throughout all three islands in the next few days to request that staff sign-up to the scheme.
Owens also reminded those who may be tempted to buy items privately that the onus is on them to satisfy themselves that the sale is legitimate.
“If the item is being offered at a price that just seems too good to be true, or the seller can’t provide proof of where he or she purchased it, then it may be stolen property. If you decide to take the risk and buy it then you too could end up facing charges in court and ultimately spend time in jail," the senior cop warned.
Officers will be at the following locations between 11.30am and 2.00pm on Friday, 14 December:
Foster's Supermarket, Airport.
Kirk's Supermarket, Eastern Avenue.
Hurley’s Supermarket, Shamrock Road.
Foster's Supermarket, Countryside, Savannah.
Republics Plaza, West Bay.
Foster's Supermarket, East End.
Tibbett’s Supermarket, Cayman Brac.
Everyone is encouraged to go along and talk about crime prevention issues with the Neighbourhood Officers. Those who can’t make it to the event can contact their local police station for advice. NAB forms are also available on the RCIPS website and can be uplifted from local police stations from Friday 14 December.
Category: Crime
The number of home burglaries traditionally spike in the summer months. Light timers and Fake TV are excellent solutions to deter burglars. Also, playing anti-theft home occupancy sounds MP3 or a CD (sells on Amazon) in home while away is a great way to trick burglar that someone is in.
T’is the season to be burgled……….Fa, La, La, La, La, La…………
Be extra vigilant in the next few weeks. I understand the annual “sympathetic release”
Is under way at Northward. Many “burglars” or non violent criminals will be released early
for Christmas….nice present. This is an excuse to relieve over crowding at the prison during
the holidays. As usual, these thugs will take a few days off to say “hi to mom”, get drunk and high,
find a lady, and then it is right back to what the do best……burglaries, petty theft, and drug dealing.
LOCK YO DOORS CAYMAN !!!!!
I was off island the last time my home was broken into. I spoke with the RCIPs officer who was at my house and who asked me what was stolen as I sat off island scratching my head.
I too was off the island when my home was burglarized. Having the paper trail and copy of my purchase reciepts for all the electronic items, I found myself being “punished” for not having the serial number for every single thing. All my items were in the car when he police arrived at my home.
Now I find out that my items are “in town” and have to go thru the court system for a judge to OK the release. (these items are unconditionally mine). I had to replace my doors that were destroyed, the frames, and all hardware.
Not to mention now I sleep with the lights on all night when on the island.
My “burgulars ” plead guilty, were released, and are home for the holidays. No “we are sorry ” from any parent of the three boys.
I feel I am being punished and being told to “wait your turn” we will contact you.
It has been 3 months, and I am still waiting for my police call for help.
Can someone tell me when “pawn shops” aka C4G type shops became legal in Cayman…or where they always legal…
Yeah, I can see why the RCIP wants to encourage prevention. They basically have demonstrated over and over that they are completley inept at actually catching and convicting these criminals. My business has been the victim of burgalaries and each time the police basically blamed me (the victim) for not doing enough "prevention". If they tout prevention as the solution then it basically shifts the expectaion off of them to actually doing someting. What a joke.
Here's a proactive suggestion. Electronically tag (Lojack) high theft items such as scooters and small outboards,etc and wait for them to get stolen (which they will) and then track them to the criminals. This isn't rocket science, nor would it be expensive. I am kidding myself to think these clowns in unform would acually ever do someting that made sense. Sounds too much like work.
I wonder if they had any way of identifying their van that was stolen several months ago. I guess not. They never asked the public to be on the lookout for it.
It would help if the people that rent out accomodation here paid better attention to fitting better locks and possibly alarms instead of just thinking of their own pockets. The standard of "security" equipment in most rented accomodation is appalling, almost falling to pieces.
When tenants destroy the furnishings, who is to blame? Some of them make an effort to demolish everything.
What has that to do with it? I am talking security from unknown burglars, you are talking tenants who have to pay a security deposit for any such damages. Would be great if burglars paid us security deposits for future burglaries. The majority of tenants behave quite well, the minority of course give the rest a bad name. All burglars and burglaries give Cayman a bad name. Go figure.
Maybe the RCIPS could try other, easier methods of idntifying property as well.
A friend of mine had an ipod stolen a few years ago and about a year later someone called my friend to say she'd bought it at a police auction. When the new owner turned it on and plugged it into the computer the old owner's full name popped up. The new owner then opened a phone book and found the old owner's phone number.
Funny how the RCIPS didn't think to try that.
After 400 + burglaries they decide to do something about it??
I was one of the burglaries. The police arrived 3 hrs and 4 calls after the event. One policeman was conducting a personal call most of the time he was there. We had to go to the station 3 days later to give a statement at 11pm, we did not leave the station until 3am after being accused of leaving the door open, despite the fact the door was smashed to gain entry. The finger print lady dusted the whole house inside and out and had 'many good prints' To date we have had no feedback only one almighty mess to clean up.
Should I ever be in the unfortunate position again, the police would be the last number I would call and I certainly won't be taking them up on their offer of advice.
In other words, "business as usual"! I've had the same thing happen to me SO many times I've stopped counting – and stopped calling.
You should be allowed to leave your door open! you should be allowed to leave your door wide open, burglars should be affraid to enter an open door, affraid of a stiff prison sentence if caught.
I cannot believe this. You have just recounted my experience exactly. Whatever the number the police is reporting in burglaries, square that number for a real indication. Guaranteed I will not be wasting my time calling the cops. Useless bunch the whole lot.
I took a good persons home to get torched by burglars before we see some action being taken against this terrible terrible situation.more reactionary strategies by this totally foreign run police service. What a shame eh??????
The burglar is smiling because he knows he has nothing to worry about from the RCIPS…slim chance of getting caught, and even slimmer chance of being convicted..