Increase in burglaries blamed for rising crime

(CNS): With 168 break-ins reported to the police in the first quarter of 2009 compared to 104 during the same period last year Police are facing an overall increase in crime figures for the first three months of this year. The number of reported offences in 08 stood at 580 while 646 offences have been reported in 9. “The RCIPS has recognised that burglary offences have been creeping up and we have been taking measures to address this,” said Acting Commissioner of Police James Smith.

“Commanders are focussing efforts on identifying and prosecuting offenders and we are continually making the public are aware that homes and businesses should be kept secure at all times. In the first three months of the year we arrested 42 people for burglary and these efforts are continuing today,” Smith added.

There were also increases in other crime categories such as Public Order Offences, gambling, fraud and littering though the RCIPS said these rises could be a consequence of proactive policing which tends to result in more offences being identified and recorded. Areas which saw decreases include Violent Crime Other (which includes offences such as assault actual bodily harm and common assault) which dropped by 50 offences and sexual offences which are down from 11 to 8. Traffic statistics show a slight drop in collisions from 363 in 2008 to 341 in 2009 and fatal collisions are down from 4 in 08 to 2 in 09.

“Our Traffic Management Unit continues to target drivers who flout the traffic law and in the first three months of this year 2454 offences were detected,” said Smith. “Of note, speeding prosecutions went up by 101 indicating that motorists are continuing to put their lives are risk by driving above the speed limits. We all have a responsibility to ensure the safety of road users and drivers should bear this in mind every time they get behind the wheel.”

According to local television reports the new Police Commissioner, David Baines (who will be the sixth person in the post in the last 15 months) arrived in the Cayman Islands on Tuesday evening and is due to take up his post on 1 June. Not only will he be facing on increase in crime statistics and a perception of a much greater increase in all crime throughout the community, the commissioner will be facing low morale in the service and the fall out from the Special Police Investigation.

Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs