Cases of thefts from houses during the summer vacation period dropped significantly in 2015 when compared to previous years, say Dubai Police. - Getty image used for illustrative purpose
Dubai - With vacations around corner, cops offer protection against thefts.
Published: Tue 15 Mar 2016, 11:00 PM
Last updated: Wed 16 Mar 2016, 11:10 AM
Vacation thefts or theft from houses of people who have left on vacations have dropped in Dubai, thanks to home safety plan. Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Commander in Chief of Dubai Police, noted that thefts from houses during vacation period have dropped significantly in 2015 when compared to previous years.
According to statistics, 269 cases were reported in 2015, of which 202 were resolved. However, in the wake of complaints received recently, Dubai Police urged residents to sign up for home safety schemes, which they credit for the drop in crime.
Preventive measures
> Do not keep valuables at home
> Disconnect electricity and water > Do not leave bicycles at yards
> Make sure all doors closed
> Do not leave keys with drivers and housemaids or under doormats
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The programme is one of the successful security plans, which the Dubai Police have implemented to reduce the number of thefts during summer vacation. Noting the rise in number of people joining the home safety plan, Al Mazeina said residents who applied for the programme in 2015 reached 389 as compared to 282 in 2014.
Thieves target villas, residential buildings and labour camps and resort to separate modus operandi for each operation. While stealing from villas, they climb the wall and steal money and jewelry; and when they target flats, they make sure that the house is empty and then break in.
Al Mazeina said that police studied the looting methods followed by thieves as well as their motives and reasons for crimes. According to the police, the economic boom in the country is encouraging for many to enter the UAE and commit crime. Also, residents take minor preventive measures as they find the country safe and secure.
Juveniles among offenders
Though Africans, Asians, Europeans, Latin Americans and gangs from Gulf Corporation Council were involved in thefts, majority of the crimes were committed by Africans, Asians and Latin Americans. The Dubai Police have arrested 430 over theft from houses in 2015, while the number of juveniles stood at 13. The police have also found out that most of the arrested thieves have had their profession as business in their passport.
According to the police, hundreds of tourists companies and airlines are indirectly adding to the menace, as they do not have any specific criterion for issuing tourist or business visas. There are repeated offenders who come to the country using new passports with different names, which increase the burden on the police officials.
How to register for home safety plan
Residents just need to log on to the Dubai Police website or visit their nearest police station to register for the home safety programme. Also, residents need to inform the police about their travel plans and provide an emergency phone number.
Once the police receive an application, it will be sent to a specialised police station, which will put the house under surveillance during the vacation period. Police patrols from the Anti-Crime Department will monitor the houses of those registered in the programme.
amira@khaleejtimes.com
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