Zero house thefts as more join security plan
dubai — No house thefts were recorded this year from residents who have joined Dubai Police’s comprehensive smart home security scheme, said a top official.
Lieutenant Colonel Rashid Abdul Rahman bin Zabawi Al Falasi, director of Criminal Investigation Department, during a Press meet on Wednesday, said that the home security programme launched by the Dubai Police is witnessing a strong demand from citizens as well as expat residents.
The Dubai Police aim to reduce the rate of crime and theft of homes through this home security programme. The smart home security scheme is a preventive security service to protect the public’s homes during their holidays, whether they travel inside or outside the country.
The number of applicants registered for the service has seen a 35 per cent rise this year compared to last year’s 30 per cent; which was 17 and 15 per cent in 2016 and 2014 respectively.
Also on Wednesday, the Dubai Police launched a home security campaign in cooperation with the department of security awareness in the general department of community happiness.
Al Falasi said that the police look forward to half of the total residents joining for the scheme in 2018. If residents forgot to subscribe to the service before travelling, they can also do that from their home country or country of visit by contacting call centre on 901 requesting for the service.
House robberies have been reduced by 20 per cent and no thefts were reported from the participating house owners since the launch of the home security scheme in 2004, according to Lt Col Al Falasi.
He added that the programme has been developed this year to become fully smart in cooperation and
partnership with government departments and the private sector.
No breach of privacy
Residents can also instal cameras and new sensors for a reasonable charge through the Dubai Police web site. He urged residents to join the programme and protect their houses from potential thefts and other crimes.
Al Falasi said that the police have distributed free surveillance cameras to some people to encourage them. However, some house owners are reluctant to instal cameras as they are scared that it would affect their privacy. He said that privacy will not be affected and the sensors would just alert the police if someone tries to intrude. Most importantly, cameras help residents also to monitor their houses remotely.
He urged travellers not to leave money and valuables such as jewellery in home. They can keep them in banks, or keep them at a relative’s house or a friend in the country, and not to leave the car outside the house during the long journey.