The number of burglaries recorded in Kowloon East fell by more than a third last year compared to 2003 after the police started working with public housing management and security companies.
Public housing estates recorded 253 burglaries last year, according to figures released yesterday, compared to 552 in 2003. The total number of burglaries across Kowloon East stood at 1,029, compared with 1,594 in 2003.
The number of cases fell dramatically after police began working with the Housing Department and security companies, said Detective Chief Inspector Dennis Ko Shek-cheong of the Kowloon East Regional Crime Prevention Office.
'During the period, police called on housing estates to ensure [there were] adequate security officers to guard lift lobbies with more than one entrance - to beef up security personnel if possible and close any unguarded entrances,' he said.
Last year, police conducted 1,149 unannounced spot checks of on-duty security officers at public housing estates in East Kowloon.
The visits resulted in 324 warning letters to security companies and 56 to individual security guards, according to police.