13 May 2011

Belconnen Burglaries and how to prevent them - BCC May Forum

| Damien Haas
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Belconnen is one of Canberra’s largest urban areas with over 91,000 residents – and growing. Sadly, one aspect of all societies is crime and even family friendly Belconnen is not immune from it. One of the most common crimes in Canberra is burglary and in April 2011 the Australian Federal Police reported 38 burglaries in the Belconnen area. Last year Belconnen residents suffered from 563 burglaries – the highest of any area in the ACT.

Not only is it a very common crime, but burglary is also a very difficult crime to solve. The latest AFP Annual Report shows that there were 5097 burglaries reported across all of Canberra in 2010 with a clear-up rate of only 7%. As well as showing that Belconnen is over represented in this crime statistic, it means that the chance of you recovering your valuables is quite low. Most burglaries are crimes of opportunity so there are some measures the homeowner can take to reduce their chances of appearing on the crime statistics.

At the May Forum of the Belconnen Community Council, the burglary problem will be explored. Our first speaker will be from the AFP’s ACT Police who will place the crime and burglary statistics into perspective and advise on the strategies and methods that the AFP are using to address crime in Belconnen, and in particular household burglaries. They will also provide some advice on how to make sure your home is not attractive to burglars. We will then hear from Neighbourhood Watch on how they operate and how you can become involved in helping to prevent crime in your street. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers. If you are concerned about this issue we urge you to attend.

7.30pm, Community Room 1, 17 May 2011
Upstairs Belconnen Library, Chandler Street

All residents of Belconnen are invited to attend our forums.

Damien Haas
Belconnen Community Council

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Plenty of “terrorists and other fun stuff” in the ACT according to Tooks:

“The trucks are expected to respond to about 300 incidents a year, ranging from suspicious packages to white powder threats.”

Just the facts mam (Dragnet cica 1960)

Forgive my terrible math, but if Belconnen has roughly 91k residents, that makes them 25%ish percent of the 358kish ACT population… and if there were 563 breakins our of 5097 total, that represents about 11% of all breakins for the ACT.

So, assuming a fairly equal household density distribution between Belcompton households and those of the other areas…. how exactly is Belconnen ‘over represented in this crime statistic’?

I assume you dont work down on Benjamin Way (or, at least, not on the west side).

Captain RAAF2:39 pm 17 May 11

I have had cause to contact Police twice (non-emergency) while in Canberra and both times they were at my door within 10 minutes. I think they do a great job in a city that is wildly over-populated by spankers and arseclowns!

When the local Ngunnawal people tried to steal the wifes car and she scared them off at 2am by dashing outside in a nightie and screaming at them, the po-po were there in minutes.

Nothing but praise for them here.

Jim Jones said :

EvanJames said :

I watch a major Canberra road from my window all day, and you see some horrendous stupidity out there, but none of us has ever seen a police person doing anything about it.

There’s a road without police on it. They turn up after an accident.

Whoop-de-f%^king-doo. Whaddya want, squads of police on each and every road in Canberra?

Maybe there should be a squad of police in this thread to combat the ‘horrendous stupidity’.

+1

I don’t get people using the fact that they haven’t seen squadrons of police patrolling the streets (or their street at the very least) as a sign that the police is lazy and not interested in combatting petty crime.

In my dealings with ACT police and what I’ve heard of others who’ve dealth with car theft or house break-ins, I have always found them professional and pretty darn fast compared to other places where I’ve lived.

I’ve no idea if 500whatever burglaries is a lot for an area of that size. It all depends what you compare it too. If it worries you, an alarm is much more effective than a deadlock or even a dog.

I’m not anti police. You just quoted a whole bunch of my words praising police. Or are ACT Police the only police? I’m not sure there are any ACT police, I never see any.

Sorry, I meant anti-ACT Police, as it was a very obvious dig at them (and confirmed in that last sentence). You praised a NSW patrol for catching motorists but I didn’t see any other praise for police in your comments.

I watch a major Canberra road from my window all day, and you see some horrendous stupidity out there, but none of us has ever seen a police person doing anything about it.

All day? As in all 8 hrs (or more) of the day you’re sitting looking out the window. I don’t believe that for a second, and neither do you. BTW, what road is it (I’ll understand if you don’t want to answer that)? Have you contacted ACT police to air your concerns about the perceived lack of police presence on that road? Thought not.

They do turn up when the horrendous stupidity results in a crash. There was a head-on the other day caused by two road ragers who refused to merge. I was talking to the bloke who was coming the other way and got cleaned up, reckoned the police weren’t interested in why the crash happened, they turned up, did their forms and things and that was that, claim your insurance.

That’s his interpretation. Police will get all driver’s version of events and that of any witnesses who may have hung around. If they have enough evidence to prove who was at fault, a TIN/s or summons is the most likely outcome. If that particular driver you spoke with was unsatisfied with the actions of police, then he can take that up with the relevant people.

it’s really impressive the way you try to defend the indefensible, Tooks, it really is.

Thanks, but when did I defend the indefensible though? I just responded to your ill-informed whinge with real life examples countering your comments about police not responding to petty crime and traffic offences, which I notice you failed to respond to.

But Canberra is not being served by its police force in the way most people seem to expect.

What do you base that on? Are your views representative of most Canberrans? Crime statistics, full jails, and clogged Magistrates and Supreme Courts would tend to suggest otherwise, would it not?

And when they’re being given riot control vehicles and suchlike, it’s pretty evident that their view of their role vs the view of the citizenry are two different things.

Every police jurisdiction was given one of those IRRC. In fact, I think the ACT was the last jurisdiction to get one of those vehicles. That vehicle will be used operationally in the ACT (by tactical response)for many different purposes.

You’d be more convincing if you didn’t resort to insulting the people you disagree with, by the way. Really lops off the legs of your argument.

If you’re insulted, then I suggest you are being a bit precious and extraordinarily thin-skinned. Don’t be insulted just because I am as passionate about my point of view as you are about yours. You think you’re right and I think I’m right. To me, this is a fairly civilised argument and a bit of fun. I might have a dig at your opinions, but I didn’t have a dig at you personally (I didn’t think I did anyway).

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying ACT police are perfect, but I’d have to say that having lived in several different states, the cops we have here stack up pretty well, in my experience.

EvanJames said :

I watch a major Canberra road from my window all day, and you see some horrendous stupidity out there, but none of us has ever seen a police person doing anything about it.

There’s a road without police on it. They turn up after an accident.

Whoop-de-f%^king-doo. Whaddya want, squads of police on each and every road in Canberra?

Maybe there should be a squad of police in this thread to combat the ‘horrendous stupidity’.

Tooks said :

If you’re going to post these anti-police rants, fair enough, but at least make them factual, rather than crap based on your ignorance of how policing works. Normally I’d give you the benefit of the doubt and just assume you’re trolling, but I’m starting to believe you actually believe the stuff you write.

I’m not anti police. You just quoted a whole bunch of my words praising police. Or are ACT Police the only police? I’m not sure there are any ACT police, I never see any.

I watch a major Canberra road from my window all day, and you see some horrendous stupidity out there, but none of us has ever seen a police person doing anything about it. They do turn up when the horrendous stupidity results in a crash. There was a head-on the other day caused by two road ragers who refused to merge. I was talking to the bloke who was coming the other way and got cleaned up, reckoned the police weren’t interested in why the crash happened, they turned up, did their forms and things and that was that, claim your insurance.

it’s really impressive the way you try to defend the indefensible, Tooks, it really is. But Canberra is not being served by its police force in the way most people seem to expect. And when they’re being given riot control vehicles and suchlike, it’s pretty evident that their view of their role vs the view of the citizenry are two different things.

You’d be more convincing if you didn’t resort to insulting the people you disagree with, by the way. Really lops off the legs of your argument.

ACT Policing seem to think their job is terrorists and other fun stuff.

Yes, they are out in force looking for terrorists, as there is heaps of terrorism in Canberra. It’s quite embarrassing when people confuse ACT Policing with AFP national operations, not to mention ignorant in the extreme. If you had bothered educating yourself at all, you’d know ACT Policing makes up about 10% of the AFP.

Traffic? Petty Crime? naaah. Boring.

I’ve repeated this many times on this site and I’ll do so again. Go and sit in the Magistrates Court pretty much any day of the week and see how many cases of ‘petty’ crime and traffic offences are dealt with there. 1000s of TINS are issued every year in Canberra, 100s of drink drivers are caught each year, 100s of drivers are arrested or otherwise put before Court each year. The same goes with what you call petty crime.

It’s refreshing to see the NSW police doing actual community police stuff over the border. Our friend in the blue cop-mobile was happily catching idiots again this morning , up on the turnoff to the Ridgeway. It’s amazing how many cars they catch on that stretch. More in the school zone.

Actual community stuff? Traffic duties? Every police force in every jurisdiction in this country does the same. Of course, because you don’t see it on this side of the border it musn’t be happening? Okay, makes sense…I guess all the traffic offenders in Canberra are handing themselves in or receiving TINS from the traffic fairy.

If you’re going to post these anti-police rants, fair enough, but at least make them factual, rather than crap based on your ignorance of how policing works. Normally I’d give you the benefit of the doubt and just assume you’re trolling, but I’m starting to believe you actually believe the stuff you write.

The Frots said :

Tooks said :

damien haas said :

It is worth downloading the AFP Annual report, its a fascinating read. It is interesting that effectively the ACT Government ‘hire’ a police force. Maybe the producivity commission will recommend opening up the process to other bidders one day!

The process has been open to other bidders. IRRC, NSW Police were waaaay too expensive to get the gig.

Really? I thought it was exclusive to the ACT Policing Component part of the original 1979 deal that saw the amalgamation between ACT Police, The Commonwealth Police and the defunct Narcotics Bureau. Could be wrong of course (I recall being wrong in 1985 – terrible experience) but happy to better understand what ‘deals’ we have in place.

Any ideas Tooks?

It’s my understanding VICPOL and NSWPOL don’t want to run ACT Policing. Whether they could do it at a cost acceptable to ACT govt even if they wanted it, I don’t know.

It’s a moot point at the moment anyway, as the govt are happy with the cost and service provided to them at the moment and that’s unlikely to change any time soon.

johnboy said :

I think it’s a mistake to read too much into Denton’s AFP series and how it relates to the work of ACT Policing.

Oh, absolutely it is. But the truth of the matter is that the more serious crimes are more attractive. That, combined with the low probability of solving cold burglaries in residential areas makes it more ‘mudane’ for want of a better word.

That’s not taking anything away from the ACT Police component at all – simply the way it is (in any police force around the world in fact).

georgesgenitals10:43 am 17 May 11

EvanJames said :

Turn the NSW cops loose in the ACT for a week and they’d have a field day, it would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

Add the NSW courts into the mix. They take a lot less BS that the ACT seems to.

I think it’s a mistake to read too much into Denton’s AFP series and how it relates to the work of ACT Policing.

EvanJames said :

ACT Policing seem to think their job is terrorists and other fun stuff. Traffic? Petty Crime? naaah. Boring.

It’s refreshing to see the NSW police doing actual community police stuff over the border. Our friend in the blue cop-mobile was happily catching idiots again this morning , up on the turnoff to the Ridgeway. It’s amazing how many cars they catch on that stretch. More in the school zone.

Turn the NSW cops loose in the ACT for a week and they’d have a field day, it would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

+1 for this one. The more serious crime is always the more attractive. They don’t make big budget movies about an evening at a RBT do they?

ACT Policing seem to think their job is terrorists and other fun stuff. Traffic? Petty Crime? naaah. Boring. It’s refreshing to see the NSW police doing actual community police stuff over the border. Our friend in the blue cop-mobile was happily catching idiots again this morning , up on the turnoff to the Ridgeway. It’s amazing how many cars they catch on that stretch. More in the school zone.

Turn the NSW cops loose in the ACT for a week and they’d have a field day, it would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

Arrived home last night and noticed a dead car battery in my carport has been stolen! The suspect arrived and left in a white 90’s Celica and i have him on video. A dead car battery?

No, the irony of this theft does not escape me.

Thanks for this article Damien, I believe that the ACT community is poorly served by the AFP. As I understand the system the AFP serves two masters the Federal Government and the Local ACT government and as the minor party our priorities play second fiddle.
I would like to know more about the finances, who pays for what services. Are we being ripped off by the Federal government?
Remember the Olympic Torch fiasco where the Feds demanded additional police coverage but would not anti up the funds.
Where do I go to see if the books are cooked?
I regret I can not attend, but you have my support.

My flat got burgled within the last too weeks and I am not sure deadlocking the windows would have helped they used hedge clippers stolen from the house out front to break the window and climb in. Perhaps an alarm or security screens might have worked… but we cant have a dog in this rental property.
I think some sort of neighbourhood watch thing might have helped. The neighbours apparently saw the thieves leaving but by then it was too late.

Tooks said :

damien haas said :

It is worth downloading the AFP Annual report, its a fascinating read. It is interesting that effectively the ACT Government ‘hire’ a police force. Maybe the producivity commission will recommend opening up the process to other bidders one day!

The process has been open to other bidders. IRRC, NSW Police were waaaay too expensive to get the gig.

Really? I thought it was exclusive to the ACT Policing Component part of the original 1979 deal that saw the amalgamation between ACT Police, The Commonwealth Police and the defunct Narcotics Bureau. Could be wrong of course (I recall being wrong in 1985 – terrible experience) but happy to better understand what ‘deals’ we have in place.

Any ideas Tooks?

Deadlock your doors and windows and buy a dog.

damien haas said :

It is worth downloading the AFP Annual report, its a fascinating read. It is interesting that effectively the ACT Government ‘hire’ a police force. Maybe the producivity commission will recommend opening up the process to other bidders one day!

The process has been open to other bidders. IRRC, NSW Police were waaaay too expensive to get the gig.

Pommy bastard2:37 pm 14 May 11

georgesgenitals said :

Catch them in the act and break their legs in multiple places. Theives are scum anyway.

No they are not!

They all come from broken families and were abused and beaten and bullied as kids. What they need is understanding and counselling. We should give them self esteem courses, pay for them to have good houses and supportive social workers, and raised benefits for teh purchase of drugs and alcohol. We need to take away the stigma of being thieving scum. We should from now on refer to them as “non-domicile item reappropriation interventionists”.

Nope, on second thoughts, let’s just break their legs .

I summed the stats from all of the AFP ‘areas’ across the ACT that they have created to allocate policing resources.

I used a few sources for stats, primarily the AFP website – but its abstruse and requires multiple webpages open and switching back and forth. I also downloaded the AFP ACT Policing Annual report and read through that. i forget which appendix the crime stats are in, but the numbers are there. I hope I havent got my numbers wrong, but i did try to just limit the numbers to burglaries and it was difficult to seperate out ‘other thefts’ etc.

I never relised how much petty crime there was untill i looked at the numbers.

It is worth downloading the AFP Annual report, its a fascinating read. It is interesting that effectively the ACT Government ‘hire’ a police force. Maybe the producivity commission will recommend opening up the process to other bidders one day!

I have a question about your numbers. You say Belconnen had 563 burglaries last year, which was the highest in the ACT. You then say say that there were 5097 burglaries in all of Canberra last year. I can’t see how those figures can correlate? I’m working on the assumption of 6 or 7 ‘areas’.

(I’m not trying to have a go at you… I’m just a bit confused.)

georgesgenitals said :

Catch them in the act and break their legs in multiple places. Theives are scum anyway.

And, realistically, that is probably the best deterent of all. It’s the one I prescribe to!

georgesgenitals10:04 am 14 May 11

Catch them in the act and break their legs in multiple places. Theives are scum anyway.

Hosinator said :

Get

The Frots said :

Hey Damien – good luck with the forum, I think it’s vital that we have some innovative and practical approaches to reducing these burglaries.

Why do you have to be innovative?
Get a home alarm, lock away lawnmowers etc and you are fine.

Every home I move to I install and alarm and have never been broken into. It’s the simplest deterrent around.

It’s the bigger picture stuff, not the issue of what each house does. Buy a dog – does the same thing. But on a broader perspective, as a community, always good to have a crime reduction strategy that works.

I believe a particular education institution with sh!tty security might be cause of the spike.

Stats without a context are pretty useless.

Get

The Frots said :

Hey Damien – good luck with the forum, I think it’s vital that we have some innovative and practical approaches to reducing these burglaries.

Why do you have to be innovative?
Get a home alarm, lock away lawnmowers etc and you are fine.

Every home I move to I install and alarm and have never been broken into. It’s the simplest deterrent around.

According to this http://www.police.act.gov.au/community-safety/crime-statistics.aspx Belconnen is one of the safer areas of Canberra

Hey Damien – good luck with the forum, I think it’s vital that we have some innovative and practical approaches to reducing these burglaries.

Also consider that while a lot of them are ‘opportunistic’, there is a growing trend here that includes groups or clusters of younf offenders who are actively ‘casing’ whole streets, not just individual houses, for the opportunity to break in. Instead of doing over one house, they may knock over 5 in the same street at the same time.

In your forum, consider this new type of approach and just what can be done about it. Crime reduction principals are generally generic but with some innovation and creativity, the forum may be able to discuss a new approach to combating this. For example, stronger ‘neighbourhood watch’ programs – or a broading of the old ‘safe-house’ to include a ‘watch out for your neighbours’ (just an example).

Good luck with it – and please let us know how it goes and what ideas you develop.

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