The Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force as part of its continued effort to prevent crime is offering the following advice which provides a number of practical ways in which residents, visitors and businesses within the Turks & Caicos can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of Theft or Robbery.
1.First, understand that criminals usually target persons considered to be soft or careless. Always ensure that your valuables (bag, wallet, purse, cell phone etc) are securely held on your person and are not left unattended. Do not hold excessive amounts of cash about your person.
2.Plan your journey. Try to avoid walking alone at night, and keep to well-lit main roads where possible. You should try to avoid short cuts like bushy areas.
3.Always pay attention to your surroundings for persons likely to be stalking you, prowling or hiding in nearby bushes or in parked vehicles. Be particularly cautious in dark, secluded or bushy areas. Look for tell tale signs in a suspect’s behaviour, which may entail an act of nervously observing individuals whilst preparing to commit a crime.
4.Try to avoid wearing headphones – your ability to hear traffic, strangers or potential trouble is severely restricted.
5.Should an attacker confront you, remember your personal safety comes first.
6.Cell phones are particularly susceptible to theft. Do not attract attention to your phone when you are carrying or using it in the street or leave your phone in an unattended car. It only takes seconds for a thief to smash a window and steal your phone. Keep your phone out of sight in your pocket or handbag when not in use and use your phone’s security lock code, if it has one. You should record details of your phones serial number and additionally properly mark your phone for identification by the police. If you become the victim of a cell phone theft report it to the police immediately and your service provider.
7.For businesses that employ security officers, make sure that full attention is given to the property’s immediate surroundings. This is particularly important around closing hours.
8.Do not hold excessive amounts of cash on your business premises. Businesses are most vulnerable to crime when staffing levels are low, e.g. during lunch hours or when opening or closing the business. Predictable routines should always be avoided; e.g. vary cash delivery/collection times and routes to and from your bank or business. If it is necessary to hold large sums of cash, consider professional cash handling services.
Know of any criminal activities?
Cash rewards are being offered by Crimestoppers in a bid to catch criminals in the Turks & Caicos.
If you know who is involved in criminal activity in the Turks & Caicos, but don’t want to talk to the Police, you can pass information to Crimestoppers without revealing your identity. Just call 1-800-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously in English, French or Spanish on either www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA and only the information about the criminal activity is passed on to the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force.