Daijiworld Media Network - Sharjah

Sharjah, Mar 15: A month-long awareness campaign was launched by Sharjah police under the slogan entitled 'your belongings are your responsibility' to educate members of the society to safeguard their belongings and not to keep any valuable items in cars.

The campaign was launched amid the theft cases registered in a few of the police stations in the Emirates.

However, there has been a significant dip in thefts especially from cars and pickpocketing, the police said.

Colonel Omar Ahmed Balzoud, Director of Criminal Investigation Department, Sharjah Police, said that the campaign aimed to strengthen preventive measures against thefts from cars. He cited that the move was in line with the Federal Ministry of Interior’s strategic aim to further enhance safety and security for the Emiratis and the residents alike.

Awareness videos are being put out in three languages - Arabic, English, and Urdu - on social media platforms of the Sharjah Police.

Colonel Balzoud urging the citizens to practice precaution said, "Motorists should take necessary preventive measures by ensuring that the doors and windows of their cars are closed, and vehicles’ engines are not running. To prevent thefts, valuables and cash should be kept in safe places and a vehicle should be parked safely, especially when its owner is out of the country for long."

He pointed out that a few thefts that have come to their notice were because of the car owners’ negligence.

The modus operandi of the thieves is simple. “Usually, they break the triangular glass on a car window to open doors of a vehicle and steal whatever valuables they can lay their hands on. At times, cars are left unlocked by owners near supermarkets, bakeries, houses, public facilities, or isolated areas. Such negligence gives a windfall opportunity to thieves,” he said.

He urged the public to contribute towards enhancing the sense of security among members of the community by calling on 999, 901, or toll-free number (Najeed) 800151 to report any crime or abnormal or suspicious behaviour.