body-container-line-1

Celebrating Incident Free Christmas: What Tips May Be Relevant?

By Daily Guide
Opinion Celebrating Incident Free Christmas:  What Tips May Be Relevant?
DEC 18, 2014 LISTEN

It is exactly five years when a close relative visited the central business district of Accra to do her final shopping for the year but unfortunately returned home after a few hours with virtually nothing. Her return was not because she could not afford the prices, neither did she not find what to purchase.

Instead, an attempt to pay for an item she had already bargained for drew her attention to the fact that she was carrying an empty bag.  The content of the bag had been stolen long time ago.

This and more other crimes are recorded as the year ends because criminals see the season as an opportunity to get some booties. Due to this, the period of Christmas is often characterized by all sorts of nefarious activities – ranging from stealing, pick pocketing, robbery, burglary, fraud, to name but a few.

Last week the police outdoored its security plans for the yuletide. Codenamed 'Operation Father Christmas,'  it is a comprehensive security strategy to ensure that the season is celebrated with little or no crime. Among the security arrangements are confidence building patrols in all the 11 police regions to assure the public of the readiness of the police to provide the needed security as well as to frustrate criminal efforts before, during and after the festive season.  Aside this, sufficient police personnel have been deployed throughout the country to intensify and beef up security in the communities, towns, highways, business districts, market areas, beaches, public places and snap check-points.

The personnel detailed for such duties shall be seen engaging in foot and vehicle patrols, picking and gathering intelligence, responding rapidly to distress situations, interacting with the general public to offer assistance when is required and above all, providing intense security to all. Another area of concern to the police is the public's gross disregard for road traffic regulations which often results in road accidents, some of them very fatal.

In this respect, sufficient Motto Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) personnel have been deployed to all intersections and highways to enforce strict compliance with road traffic regulations. Again, the police shall visit lorry parks and stations to educate and sensitize transport service providers on some road offences such as the use of worn-out tyres and rickety vehicles, the use of communication gadgets whilst driving, drunk driving, careless driving, among others to ensure maximum safety on our roads.

As the police are doing their bit to protect the citizenry and to ensure an incident free Christmas, the public is equally entreated to be security conscious and observe basic security principles and tips in order to deter would-be criminals from their activities.

As much as possible;
Avoid keeping or carrying huge sums of money on you when shopping or transacting businesses.  Consider making payments through bank transfers or cheques.  The use of credit cards, mobile money transfers, ATM cards or other appropriate but credible means may be employed.

Avoid advertising personal details and vacation plans on social media. Social media can be employed to monitor movements of potential targets by viewing their profile and planning to strike.

When leaving home for events and religious programmes at night, it is advisable to leave at least two people at home to take care of the home.

Walk in groups or threes at secluded places, especially after church programmes.

People who make merry at the beaches should desist from swimming under the influence of alcohol

External doors and windows to your homes must be well fortified to prevent or delay activities of burglars.

Make sure you have enough knowledge of people who knock at your door before you open it.

Ladies should be mindful of men they meet during this festive season and refuse attractive offers which may be used to lure them.

The public should be wary of pick pockets at market and overcrowded areas. If you are in possession of money and other valuables, if possible, avoid these areas.

No amount of security tips will be enough without practising or observing them. The police can be reached on the numbers below for assistance.

Note    
FOR ANY INFORMATION ON CRIME AND POLICE ASSISTANCE,

CALL NATIONAL CRIMEFIGHTERS NUMBERS  
0302 773695    0302 773906        
MTN & VODAFONE TOLL FREE 18555  191(VODAFONE/EXPRESSO/AIRTEL & TIGO

body-container-line