BURGLARIES IN BUKIT TIMAH (Police investigations)

Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for Home Affairs what is the progress of police investigations into the recent spate of burglaries in the Bukit Timah locality.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, to date Police has solved four earlier cases committed in March and April in localities other than Bukit Timah. As for the more recent burglaries, investigations are on-going. Police has set up a Special Task Force comprising officers from various units, including the Gurkhas, the Special Operations Command and the Police Coast Guard, to catch the culprits. The task force is conducting ambushes and other operations as part of its efforts to arrest the robbers. Police has also stepped up patrols in private residential estates.

Sir, in addition to more intense operations and patrols, Police has sought assistance from its counterparts in neighbouring countries, and also publicised the $20,000 reward it is offering for information which would help lead to the arrest of the culprits in neighbouring countries.

Sir, while enforcement is important and necessary, the importance of crime prevention - both by the police and the public - cannot be over-emphasized. Some of the steps the Police has taken, and will continue to take, include:

(1) Sending leaflets to private homes (through the mail or by NPP officers during their rounds) to alert home-owners to the recent robberies and provide them with crime prevention tips to make their homes more secure;

(2) Conducting home visits to advise residents on proper crime prevention measures such as installing burglar alarms and strong locks and grilles, illuminating the compound with spotlights and fencing up or mending holes in fences, as applicable. Police has also advised residents to keep their handphones within easy reach in their rooms so that they can still readily contact the Police in case the telephone line in their home is cut.

(3) Conducting crime-risk surveys for residents free of charge. The public can contact the nearest police station or post to request for home crime-risk surveys.

(4) Encouraging residents in private residential premises to participate in Neighbourhood Watch Scheme (NWS). NPP officers will visit private residential premises and advise residents on various crime prevention measures and help set up Neighbourhood Watch Groups (NWGs). They will encourage the Residents Associations to form such groups. After the recent spate of robberies, Police has helped to set up two NWGs in private residential estates.

(5) Placing police boxes at strategic locations in every private residential estate to boost Police presence in the area.