POLICE ISSUE WARNING OVER GOLD THEFTS DURING EID
MUSLIMS in west London are being warned to be careful with their gold jewellery during Eid this week.
The annual festival marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, and the West Area Command in Ealing, Hounslow and Hillingdon is asking for people to exercise caution with their Asian gold, which is highly sought after by thieves and burglars.
The festival marks the end of a month-long period of fasting and self control by Muslims, celebrated with a holiday.
The issue is not unique to the west area, Chief Inspector Richard Watkinson said in a specially recorded message ahead of Eid, which was due to fall yesterday (Tuesday) or today (Wednesday) depending on the sighting of a new crescent moon.
He said: “I want to come to you with a message of joy for Ramadan but also a message for you to keep hold of your gold please.
“This is a brilliant time of year and I appreciate everyone is looking forward to Eid and the exchanges and the charity and the festivities that go with it, but one of the problems we have culturally throughout the Metropolitan Police area is we have an increase in burglaries and we have an increase in theft of jewellery in particular.
“So please make sure if you can, and tell your neighbours and people who aren’t so media savvy, to keep your gold out of sight if possible. If you can put your gold in a strongbox or a safe at home, then please do.
“We have extra patrols during the Ramadan period to crack down on burglars and we’ve had some really good successes recently, but if the worst comes to the worst please make sure you’ve taken photographs of your jewellery.
“If you can use Smartwater, which are packs that we give out for free among communities in Hillingdon, Hounslow and Ealing to make you as safe as you can.
“We really want you to enjoy Ramadan and Eid, but there are people that will try their best to make it a bad day for you. Please don’t let that happen to yourselves.
“If you need any more advice, please contact your local policing teams.”