The spin was working overtime in the latest commentary from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) that was included with the 2013 crime statistics to produce statements like “a dip sample of burglary reports has revealed that during the last ten weeks of 2013, 30% of reported burglaries took place at premises which were insecure – with burglars gaining access through open or unlocked windows or doors.”

That really was a “lucky dip” wasn’t it?

Of course not locking your doors and windows is an ‘open’ invitation to a burglar. So instead of smashing the door or window and adding damage to the victim’s bill this is actually a plus point to the police? Are the police saying none of those 30% of robberies would have happened if the doors and windows had been locked? It only takes a few seconds to prise open a window and force a lock. I cannot agree all those 30% were opportunists who entered these premises.

And were any other ‘dip’ samples taken?

Then there are the contributing factors. The economic downturn; people looking to make a quick buck by stealing portable items like flat screen TVs, tablets, smartphones, cash and jewellery.

Are you therefore saying if there was an upturn in the economy the stealing of the portable items would cease?

If one looks at the record of the majority of these criminals, they are habitual thieves. They have been stealing exactly the same in the good times at the same rate as in the bad times.

I am glad Police Commissioner Baines is so optimistic and “confident” the situation will improve.

“We have seen that targeted arrests and increased patrols are having results and the spike in burglaries we saw as we entered 2014 has been reversed,” the Commissioner said.

We don’t have the statistics to actually verify that but I hope that is true. Who are the persons in these ‘targeted arrests’?

Even the few words of the commentary heading had a “spin” – “Scores of suspects arrested” it starts and then finishes with “but burglaries still on the rise”.

On the rise? It is a whopping 45.62%! In twelve months!

To be fare the Commissioner did say, “The rise in burglaries is a major concern. Tackling this issue and doing all that we can in terms of patrol and investigative approaches to reduce break-ins is our top priority for us.”

It is most certainly a concern when “two of the suspects who were arrested following a burglary in Red Bay, then a subsequent police pursuit, were found to be wearing electronic monitoring tags”.

Is that concern going to be investigated and the person responsible for not monitoring it going to be publicly reprimanded? Or is this the last we hear of it until it happens again?

Yes, everyone must work together but it is frustrating when the criminals do eventually get into the justice system, some are released because of inadequate procedures leading up to and following the arrests by the police themselves.

When even the security guards cannot carry a can of mace nor a truncheon, it is quite ridiculous in these times. And these are not the times when you and I were boys Commissioner Baines.

And finally, in your words of comfort that things will improve, it is on the proviso from that little word “if”.  The situation will improve “IF the police, justice, communities and those involved in business take a collective and proactive approach”.

What we all would like to know is what isn’t working? Why isn’t it working? What steps are being taken to make it work? What new initiatives are being put in place?

If none of these questions are answered satisfactorily, no amount of “neighbourhood watch scheme in our area”, “serial numbers being noted by the owners of portable items”, “locking and bolting our windows and doors [tighter than Fort Knox]”, “cutting back bushes”, “installing outside lighting”, purchasing the “wide range of security products” that include “very sophisticated alarm and monitoring systems” is going to make a halfpenny of difference.

What we don’t need either is a spin, even a googly.