40 burglary cases recorded in the first two weeks of this month - Police

40 burglary cases were recorded from the four policing divisions in the first two weeks of this month and Police are urging home owners to adopt simple crime prevention measures to avoid becoming possible targets.

Chief of Operations ACP Rusiate Tudravu says the highest number of burglary cases are from the Southern Division with 26 cases, followed by the West with 8 cases, 3 in the East and 3 in the North.

Police have also declared red zone areas in different divisions where the burglaries are occurring. These are Nailuva Road, Grantham Road, Fletcher Road, Stage 1 and 2 Cunningham, Siga Road and Tagimoucia Road in Laucala Beach, Valelevu, Mandir Street Nadera, Cakacaka Road Caubati, Secala Road Nasole, Muanikoso Squatters, Upper Samabula and Namadi Heights in the Southern Division.

Denarau, Simla, Marine Drive in Lautoka, Savunawai Stage 2, Votualevu, Bountiful Estate, Waqadra and Balata are in the red zone in the western division.

Waila, Lal Singh Road and Lomaivuna are in the red zone for burglaries in the Eastern division while Korotari, Namara,    Savusavu Town, Delaivuna, Naqara and Drekeniwai settlement are the targeted spots in the Northern division.

ACP Tudravu says while a 4% decrease in overall crime has been recorded from the 1st to 14th of November, and reductions of 69% in aggravated robberies and 18% reduction in burglaries also recorded, they are still concerned with the number of aggravated burglary and burglary reports received over the last two weeks.

Two aggravated burglary cases were also recorded during this period from the Southern and Western Division.

It has been noted that 25 of the reports of aggravated burglaries and burglary cases were committed in broad daylight where criminals entered the homes by removing louvre blades and forced their way inside.

ACP Tudravu says the fact that all of the homes were vacant during the time of the offence warrants the urgency for members of the public to adopt simple crime prevention measures to avoid being targeted by criminals.

He says they continue to advocate the need for members of the community to know each other and help keep their neighbourhoods safe through the “Know your neighbour” initiative.

ACP Tudravu says they are also conducting regular patrols and beats on a 24-hour basis.