KUCHING: The district police headquarters (IPD) has recorded more vehicle thefts in the first two months of the year, compared to the same period last year.
Kuching police chief Ahsmon Bajah said they witnessed an increase of 12 cases from Jan 1 to Feb 19.
“The three most significant contributing criminal cases in Kuching are vehicle thefts, burglaries and robberies.
“For vehicle thefts, we have recorded an increase of 12 cases from 33 cases last year to 45 cases this year.
“As for burglaries, we have noted a drastic increase of 20 cases from 13 cases in 2023 to 33 cases this year. Meanwhile, for robberies, there has been a decrease of three cases from nine cases in 2023 to six cases this year,” he said when met after the IPD monthly assembly this morning.
In addition, the crime index cases have increased from 88 cases last year to 186 cases this year, an increase of 98 cases. For non-crime index cases, the figure increased by 54 cases from 102 cases last year to 156 cases this year.
Aside from that, Ahsmon noted that the community is one of the most important elements in crime prevention, and successful police operations rely heavily on the support and information provided by the public.
He also highlighted the power of citizen’s arrest, which empowers the community to play their role in law enforcement in crime prevention.
“We will explain to the community that they have real power through the power of citizen arrest, and we will share it to them through our existing programmes,” he said.
During the assembly, Ahsmon presented certificates of appreciation to 25 individuals, including 17 junior police officers, two civil servants, and five civilians, for their commitment and positive contributions in carrying out their duties with excellence.
