House Breakings On the Rise RTB Consumer Focus Discovers

Bandar Seri Begawan - Crime, especially household burglaries, are reportedly on the rise in Brunei, Radio Television Brunei in its weekly Consumer Focus program says.

Nothing is worse than realising that your house has been ransacked, your belongings smashed and strewn across the floor, your television set, computer and other valuables gone, it comments.

The best way to minimise your risk of becoming a victim is to become aware of what burglars are looking for, the RTB program suggests.

By eliminating any vulnerable points of entry and taking some security measures, you can reduce your chances of becoming a crime statistic, it says.

Over the past month there had been a perceptible increase in the incidence of household burglary in Brunei and the odds of having this experience are high. From the statistics given by the police department, the RTB Consumer unit has calculated that on average, one household per day will be burglarised.

The latest crime data showed an increased in household burglary incidents and arrests over the first half of this year.

According to the police department, statistics in 2002, there were 307 reported cases of household burglary and for the first half of this year the police department has recorded 194 incident calls, up from last year's 135.

The police department report says so far 30 cases have been solved this year and 41 arrests have been made.

The RTB Consumer Unit believes that there are about 100 more unreported household burglar cases each year.

An interviewee told RTB Consumer Unit, "The public would be frightened by the figures. It was appalling that many household burglary crimes go unsolved. Having no crime in the first place is better than having to detect it later. So, authorities concerned like the police and the immigration should come up with a plan and put in more effort in trying to solve this problem."

Household burglary is a chronic problem. Burglary is one of the most common crimes committed against citizens and their personal property. Burglary, simply defined, is when a criminal breaks and enters into a structure or premises (house, apartment, etc) with the intent to commit a crime.

The burglar by contrast operates on the sly. He normally uses no guns or bombs to proclaim the commission of his crime. His tools for break-in work more silently. He is no doubt anti social, but is not perceived by the public as a grave danger to society. His actions do not generate a popular condemnation or attract enough media attention.

Yet, such crimes against property affect the lives of ordinary people more than does violent crime or the organised crime of the underworld. The burglar may not kill, but can well cripple an entire generation of his innocent victims by taking away, for example, the lifetime savings of a retired couple or money kept away for the education of children.

Most importantly, repeated occurrences of this nature tend to frustrate and demoralise the public and the police.

Here are some of the tips released by the police department;

• Get to know your neighbours. They are your single best means of safety and security when it comes to looking out for your property.
• Disperse your valuables throughout your home. Make it harder for the thief to find all your jewellery or spare cash by hiding it in different places. If possible, try not to keep valuables at home.
• Good exterior lighting of a house and surrounding area is an excellent deterrent to burglary.
• Always lock your door and windows while away even for a short period of time.
• Make it look like you are home even when you are on vacation.
• Be suspicious of people loitering around your house, apartment, or the parking lot. Call 993 for police assistance if a person look suspicious.
• A peephole should be installed on the front door to provide a view of any person at the door. Once installed, be sure to use it and never open your door to a stranger.

-- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei 

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