Police concerned about security lapses

By Emmanuel Joseph

Police are noticing a worrying trend of residents and business owners failing to secure valuables and other property, and Crime Prevention Officer of the Barbados Police Service Acting Inspector Stephen Griffith has urged them to tighten up their security.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY after issuing several voice notes cautioning the public on Monday, he said these security lapses make individuals and companies targets for criminals.
“We have observed certain crimes occurring and those crimes reflect what I speak about in the messages – people keeping too much money overnight in homes and in businesses; [criminals entering] through the roofs of the building at night. So, we have to keep people alert so that we don’t have this challenge with people saying they didn’t know or they didn’t hear,” he said.
“You can only protect yourself if you know what is happening. So if a new trend or anything like that comes up, then I will issue alerts to bring you on stream with your alertness as to what is happening.”
In one of his messages on Monday, Griffith said that while the police service was pleased that many people have installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in their homes and business, “these systems need to be monitored and a response system put in place when these security systems have been activated”.
“Report all security system alerts to the Barbados Police Service immediately,” he advised.
“The Barbados Police Service has observed that some roofs have become weak points where entries into several buildings have been made. In order to mitigate these security issues involving entries into homes and businesses via the roofs, the Barbados Police Service urge you, wherever possible, to do the following: install motion sensors in your ceilings to detect any movement; remove facilitators, especially ladders, concrete blocks and barrels, from around the home or business which can be used to access the roofs,” the crime prevention officer further suggested.
Griffith also encouraged Barbadians to place adequate lighting around their residential and commercial properties and install perimeter beams around the boundaries of the buildings to detect early movement onto the property.
“The Barbados Police Service is urging businesses to avoid keeping large sums of cash overnight on their premises. In addition, we are asking that all tools being used on construction sites be properly stored and secured at the end of every work day. Have all tools properly marked for future identification. A tools audit should be done to ensure that all tools are accounted for. Report incidents of tool theft to the police without delay.
“Report all suspicious persons to the Police Service. If you see something, say something. Call us at police emergency number 211, the police hotline at 429-8787 or the nearest police station. Join the fight. Let’s unite against crime,” Inspector Griffith urged.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb