Premier predicts 2004 will be a blue year for burglars

5/1/04
The incidence of burglary has been slashed in the heart of Operation Burglary Countdown territory - a promising pilot program designed to arrest the rate of home burglaries.
Thanks to the combined efforts of police, volunteers and local Government, working with the backdrop of a State-wide campaign to cut Western Australia's burglary rate, preliminary figures show the number of burglaries in December in Bentley was reduced by over a third on the previous year.
There were 58 home burglaries in Bentley in December 2002 - but just 40 in December 2003.
In Morley, where the program is also operating, the home burglary reduction figures are even more encouraging.
There were 45 home burglaries in Morley in December 2002 - but just 15 in December 2003.
Premier Geoff Gallop today heralded a tough new year for burglars as he visited volunteers and other members of the Operation Burglary Countdown team in Bentley. But he has also warned householders in Bentley - and across the State - not to be complacent.
"This is a terrific result for a hard-working community, but as people head back to work and - in a few weeks' time - back to school, it's important to remain as security conscious and vigilant as ever," Dr Gallop said.
Operation Burglary Countdown, an innovative pilot backed by the Office of Crime Prevention and the WA Police Service, is set to expand to regional WA in 2004 and involves a string of community-based and policing initiatives including:

• awareness and advice for householders;

• free home security audits;

• support and advice for victims to reduce re-victimisation;

• intelligence-based policing targeting known and repeat offenders; and

• property marking and recording of stolen goods disposal routes to make it tougher for burglars to move stolen property.

The Premier said community crime reduction volunteers recruited through the Neighbourhood Watch program had been well-trained by Police and played an important role in the early success of the pilot project in Bentley.
The volunteers helped prevent the re-victimisation of people who had been burgled by providing them with security audits and advice and linking them with victim support services.
"Local government workers - such as parks and gardens officers, rubbish collectors and rangers - in the City of Canning and the Town of Victoria Park, will also be trained to help identify suspicious people or vehicles and collect intelligence for police," Dr Gallop said.
"They will effectively be the 'eyes on the street' in support of crime reduction and this initiative is already up and running in the City of Bayswater."
High school students in the Bentley and Morley areas have been encouraged to report suspicious activities and any information they might possess concerning local burglaries.
Local businesses are also playing their part in promoting good security and heightened awareness of the risk and incidence of burglary.
An interagency plan that targets truancy and anti-social behaviour by children and young people in Bentley who are at risk of offending is soon to be implemented.
Operation Burglary Countdown is backed by a State-wide campaign including:

• the establishment of a dedicated State Burglary Reduction Taskforce;

• improved communication and intelligence-sharing between Government agencies;

• a 'Burglar Beware' awareness campaign warning burglars they will be caught and warning the community to be vigilant about security; and

• providing funding of up to $5,000 each for community and Local Government safety and crime prevention projects.

The campaign also includes a number of policing initiatives including the sustained targeting of repeat offenders and use of the latest DNA and fingerprinting technology.
Dr Gallop urged all householders to play their part in reducing WA's rate of home burglaries by getting involved in Neighbourhood Watch, reporting any suspicious behaviour to police and keeping their own homes secure.
"It's a simple message but in about half WA's burglaries, the offender simply walks or climbs in through an open door or window," he said.
"We want every law-abiding Western Australian to have a safe and happy New Year - and every would-be burglar to know their chances of being caught are greater than ever.
"We are keeping our New Year's resolution - to maintain a tough stand on burglaries in WA."
Premier's office: 9222 9475