Major drive against
'quick cash crimes'
With the increasing popularity of the Individual Visit Scheme for Mainland residents, and with the summer holidays and the Hong Kong Tourism Board's 2004 HK Shopping Festival around the corner, there might be an upsurge in the number of local residents and tourists from the Mainland and overseas frequenting shopping areas.
Whilst this is good for the local economy, crooks would be looking for opportunities for fast bucks. Their victims are mainly unwary shoppers who do not keep an eye on their wallets, handbags and other personal items. Another trick is causing a small confusion in a shop and then slip away with cash.
However, Hong Kong Island Regional Commander Tang Kam-moon is anxious not to let the crooks have any chance; and has directed his Regional Crime Prevention Office to mount a publicity campaign against 'Quick cash crimes' in particular pickpocket and theft at major shopping arcades.
The campaign is taking the forms of distributing leaflets to the public, visiting and giving advice to shop owners, and erecting exhibition boards to disseminate anti-crime messages at major approaches to shopping arcades, as well as putting up posters or stickers at public transport.
Theft prevention messages are taken to various districts
Departmental store staff are another target for publicity activities
Distributing publicity leaflet to cafe management
Public transport assists in disseminating theft prevention messages
One of the exhibition booths set up in eight shopping centres on Hong Kong Island