Crime in the Cayman Islands fell by 20.33% in the first six months of 2013 – but burglary is bucking the trend and is still causing a concern.

Serious crimes have fallen by 6.09% and volume crimes by 26.97%. Almost every recorded crime category has shown a decrease compared to the same period last year. Attempted murders decreased by 75%, robberies are down by 46.88 %, attempted robberies down 50% and GBH shows a reduction of 58.33%. Every volume crime category such as theft, threatening violence and assaults has fallen.

However, it’s not all good news. Burglaries have shown an increase of 7.82%, with 262 burglaries this year compared to 243 in the first six months of 2012 – that equates to 19 more burglaries, and 19 more victims.

Superintendent Adrian Seales, head of district operations for the RCIPS, says that officers are working hard with communities to help reduce burglaries.

“Daytime burglaries are a major issue for us at the moment. It’s clear that burglars are targeting houses and condos whilst people are out at work, or on holiday. Our beat officers have been meeting with Neighbourhood Watch coordinators and talking to people throughout the islands to offer crime prevention advice. We have officers conducting high visibility and unmarked patrols at all times of the day and night.

“We are also liaising closely with second hand dealers to ensure that all possible steps are taken to prevent the resale of stolen goods. The items of choice for burglars are electronics – such as flat screen TVs, laptops, iPads, tablets, cellphones etc. On some occasions jewellery and cash have been taken too.

“So far this year we have made 63 (sixty-three) burglary arrests as a result of our proactive patrolling and intelligence gathering. But we need people to help us reduce the opportunities for burglars by ensuring that they have proper locks on their windows and doors, and that they note the serial numbers of their property.”

Although second hand dealers are now commonplace on Grand Cayman, they are not quite so common in the Sister Islands. A new company has, however, started doing business in the area. Staff from the company visit the islands every few months and report that they are doing a brisk trade. Chief Inspector Frank Owens is very much alive to the fact that potential thieves and burglars may see this as a route to offload stolen property.  Both CI Owens and staff from the company have already established a good working relationship and have procedures in place to ensure that no stolen property is inadvertently handled by staff.

“Household burglaries are rare in the Sister Islands and that’s the way we want to keep it,” Mr. Owens said. “Historically, secondhand dealers may have been seen by burglars and thieves as a way to offload stolen property. On many occasions the staff within these establishments have no way of identifying the property as stolen – it may seem to be a genuine transaction.  That’s why residents and business owners should make sure that they note serial numbers, take photographs and mark their property. That way, if their property is stolen the police will be able to work with the dealer to ensure that if it’s offered to them for sale it’s identified quickly – and the suspect arrested.”

Neighbourhood officers from George Town are in the process of arranging a crime prevention seminar for residents and business owners in the district. The seminar will be held in partnership with local security companies. Further details of the event will be made available shortly.

In the meantime, anyone who wishes to speak with an officer about crime prevention, or any concerns about crime in general, should contact their local police station or visit the RCIPS website www.rcips.ky.

The latest statistical publication can be found on the RCIPS website and is attached here with this story.