BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES TO CURB DAYLIGHT BURGLARY
‘The ‘Know Your Neighbour’ concept is simple and can easily be adopted; we are urging everyone to think seriously about implementing the initiative in your neighbourhood.’
Police have urged the general public to build stronger community relationships in light of a new burglary trend in Fiji.
Of the 40 burglary cases reported in the first 14 days of this month, 25 cases were committed in broad daylight, according to Police statistics, prompting calls for the adoption of better prevention measures.
“The criminals are targeting vacant homes during the day because they are taking advantage of our society’s tendency to keep to ourselves and this is reflected by the ‘red zone areas’ particularly in highly gated communities,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rusiate Tudravu in an official statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, 26 of the 40 burglary cases were reported in the Southern Division, with eight reported in the West and three each in the East and North.
ACP Tudravu said: “The fact that all of the homes were vacant during the time of the offences warrants the urgency for members of the public to adopt simple crime prevention measures to avoid being targeted by criminals.”
However, the statement said that overall crime had reduced by four per cent since the turn of the month, while a reduction in aggravated robberies and burglaries also recorded. Citing the recently introduced ‘Know Your Neighbour’ concept, ACP Tudravu said communities must play a part in keeping neighbourhoods safe.
“The ‘Know Your Neighbour’ concept is simple and can easily be adopted; we are urging everyone to think seriously about implementing the initiative in your neighbourhood,” he said.
Data outlining the ‘red zone areas’ show the Southern Division as still the hub for aggravated robberies and burglaries in Fiji, with the West and North sectors closely second.