Opportunistic thefts are on the increase
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THE number of assaults and vandalisms taking place in the Far North has reduced dramatically since last year, according to police.
However, the amount of opportunistic thefts occurring in Caithness has significantly increased which is worrying Northern Constabulary.
The concern comes after the force released crime figures for last year between the period of October 2010 and September 2011.
Figures for the Caithness and Sutherland area showed that a total of 2515 crimes were reported by the public with police achieving a successful detection rate of 81.5 per cent.
The figure has dropped from the same period between 2009 and 2010 when 2734 crimes were reported with police achieving a similar successful detection rate of 82.8 per cent.
Area Chief Inspector Matthew Reiss told the John O’Groat Journal that overall the force is happy that the amount of crime has reduced.
He said, however, that not all areas had improved and that particular types of thefts are on the increase.
"The results are encouraging, but the problem with figures is sometimes they can only be taken on face value," he said. "Unfortunately, we have seen a large rise with regard to opportunistic thefts, particularly in regard to metal thefts and heating oil.
"This year we have dealt with a number of incidents where thieves have been able to walk into premises and take valuable items.
"Some of the metal thefts have been linked to illegal scrap metal dealers and two men were charged during a day of action in October.
"Since then we have been able to stop several groups dealing in scrap metal. They have either been charged or have been reported to the procurator fiscal.
"Dealers which are licensed in scrap metal activity have nothing to worry about as we are only interested in putting illegal traders out of business."
He added: "Due to other areas of crime being reduced, we are able to deal more on this issue and will look to reduce this figure next year."
Despite the increase in thefts, Chief Inspector Reiss said that the drop in the number of violent assaults and vandalism has been a welcome trend in recent years.
He puts it down to the force’s approach of making officers more visible on the street and co-operation with the public, which he hopes will continue in the future.
"I can think back to the late 1990s when quite serious assaults involving glass took place in Thurso and Wick, but thankfully these scenes are no longer present up here.
"The introduction of CCTV in these towns has had a massive impact on the reduction of violence in town centres and the increased numbers of visits to licensed premises by police officers has also been positive.
"Pub landlords have been very co-operative and have encouraged our visits to their premises saying that they believe this has led to the reduction of antisocial behaviour.
"Despite police hours being reduced at stations in the region, the amount of co-operation we receive from the public continues to grow, with the majority of drink-drivers being caught thanks to tip-offs.
"There has been a mixture of factors which has led to the results, but we are delighted that there has been a reduction in crime overall and we hope the figure continues to drop."
Chief Inspector Reiss said that during December the police will be raising their presence in Wick and Thurso.
He said that Northern Constabulary wants everyone to be able to enjoy themselves but also said the amount of drink-related violence which occurs is most prevalent during this month.
"This is a practice which we engage on an annual basis and it always pays off as crime figures reduce year after year," he said.
"There will be more licensed premises checks during December and there will be increased patrols on the roads to combat drink-driving in Caithness.
"We have been dealing with a higher-than-average amount of drink-drivers in Caithness recently and we would urge anyone who is drinking not to get behind the wheel."
Northern Constabulary crime figures 2010-2011
Caithness and Sutherland
Crimes made known 2515
Detected 2049
Detection rate 81.5%
2009/10
Crimes made known 2734
Detected 2265
Detection rate 82.8%
Northern Constabulary area
Crimes made known 20,383
Detected 17,161
Detection rate 84.2%
2009/10
Crimes made known 21,437
Detected 17,848
Detection rate 83.3%
