PADAWAN: The police here have recorded an increase in the number of vehicle thefts reported in the district, despite the overall crime index dropping by 19 per cent.
District police chief Supt Pauzi Bujang disclosed yesterday that theft of motorcycles, lorries and cars rose between 33 to 76 per cent this year compared to the same period last year, with house break-in cases also recording a slight increase.
According to him, motorcycle thefts went up by 41 per cent to 322 cases reported this year, while car theft rose 33 per cent from 51 last year to 68 cases this year.
Lorry theft, he added, nearly doubled from 47 cases reported last year to 83 this year, which is an increase of 76 per cent.
He called on the public to work closely with the police to curb vehicle thefts and house breaking.
“On our part, we will be intensifying our effort to reach out to the local community to build closer rapport with them, so that they can channel information to us to help us fight crime,” he said following the inaugural monthly parade held at the district police headquarters in Siburan here.
In his speech earlier, Pauzi urged his officers to spend less time in the office or conducting meetings, but instead go to the ground to meet the public to find out their concerns on crime.
He also presented Outstanding Service Awards to 10 personnel, with 16 others receiving commendation certificates for their recent job performance.
Among those present during the monthly parade yesterday were deputy district police chief DSP Yap Fui Lee, district CID chief ASP Naazron Abdul Yusof as well as other senior police officers.