Students told: Don’t flaunt your gadgets

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 is advising students not to tempt criminals by showing off their gadgets during the opening of classes tomorrow.

Senior Superintendent Orlando Ualat, acting director of the PRO-7, said gadgets are attractive to thieves and pickpockets and students are their more frequent victims.

“Those students who are taking PUJs (public utility jeepneys), they are prone to snatching and pickpockets so they should keep their gadgets away,” Ualat said.

Since gadgets are useful to students, Ualat reminded students that it is better to use them only inside school premises or the classroom.

Based on the statistics presented by the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, street crimes increased 13.32 percent for the first quarter this year which or from 1,066 last year to 1,208 for the first quarter this year.

Among the seven police offices, Cebu City Police Office has the highest share of street crimes in terms of distribution showing 905 incidents this year from 814 in 2013.

Among street crimes, pickpocketing has the highest share at 27 percent followed by chance theft at 23 percent, armed robbery 19 percent, snatching at 15 percent and theft of motorcycle parts and accessories at five percent.

Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, RIDMD chief, said that those mentioned are also considered as economic crimes. The frequency of these activities vary on the status of a certain place.

“Pickpocketing ang gauna kay sagad nga biktima mga estudyante man ilabi na diri sa Cebu City gawas ana daghan sad ug malls in which sagad sad sa makuotan naa sa mga ingon ani nga establishments,” Lawas said.

Lawas, however, admitted that police may have failed in preventing these crimes but most of the effort should be from the community and stakeholders to take part in preventing crimes also.

Tomorrow, police chiefs from different police stations in Cebu City will be preparing strategies on how to welcome students back to school.

CCPO is also to distribute flyers to students and parents on how to prevent crimes or detect criminals near them.  (FREEMAN)