Dubai’s smart security home drive a hit among residents
The Dubai Police have launched the smart home security scheme for residents, as in previous years.
As a result of the campaign, the number of house burglaries during vacation has seen a huge drop and no thefts were recorded this year at the houses of those who have registered for the scheme.
Lt-Col Rashid Abdul Rahman bin Zabawi Al Falasi, director of the Criminal Investigation Department, said that the home security programme has a strong demand among citizens as well as expat residents.
The Dubai Police aim to reduce the rate of crime and house burglaries through this home security programme. 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.
The Dubai Police also launched a home security campaign in cooperation with the department of security awareness in the general department of community happiness.
How to register
The public can register for the comprehensive smart home security programme via the Dubai Police smart phone apps or the Dubai Police website.
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 service is free of charge and the police patrols would tour the area and arrest any suspect who would be spotted around the house.
The Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department would receive applications 24 hours through smart services and through their official website (www.dubaipolice.gov.ae) or through the customer service centres at the police stations.
Lt-Col 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.
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, he added.
The programme has been developed this year to become fully smart, in cooperation and partnership with other 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 website. He urged residents to join the programme and protect their houses from potential thefts and other crimes.
Lt-Col 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.
Some house owners are reluctant to instal cameras as they are scared that it would affect their privacy.” Lt-Col Rashid Abdul Rahman bin Zabawi Al Falasi, director of Criminal Investigation Dept