43
for prints but warned us it would be highly unlikely that either
the culprits or the stolen goods would be found. The local bur-
glars wear gloves and those from the mainland are not regis-
tered in the MSAR’s Judiciary Police database,’’ said Lou.
Increase
The police also explained that there had been an increase
in break-ins, and that their house had been easier to break into
because it faced an alley. The police inspector and other two
officers were in Lou’s house for about an hour. After they left
they wouldn’t hear from them again.
Since they had only just moved, the veranda had no cur-
tains to guard their routine from prying eyes and that would
be one of the first tasks for them to handle next. The thought of
moving again never crossed their minds, but the first few days
after the break-in were far from easy.
“That first night is the worst. We felt quite unsafe, we
wanted to take every precaution, we felt watched, and were
alert to every little noise at night. Now, we never leave any-
thing valuable out and we are more cautious. But this is still
our house. We like it and this is where we feel at home”.
Lou lives nearby both a Public Security Police Station and
Judiciary Police Station.
Growth attracts Crime
There are on average one to two
house break-ins – usually called rob-
bery, though incorrectly, for they
usually do not involve violence – per
night in Macau.
This number is likely to rise
in the wake of the global financial
crisis.
In 2008, there were 769 record-
ed cases of breaking and entering, a
28.6 percent increase compared to
2007 (598).
“In the last four years, the
number of said incidents has been
on the rise. The casinos and Macau’s
economic growth has attracted more
criminals,’’ said Chau Wai Kuong,
chief of the Judiciary Police Crimi-
nal Investigation Department.
According to Chau the solution
is prevention.
“Thieves do not choose peo-
ple but houses. And they break-in
when they notice that people don’t
lock their doors or leave their win-
dows open. On the other hand, the
Public Security Police force, as well
as us, ought to patrol more at night.
The Judiciary Police cannot limit
themselves to an investigative role.
We want to improve the exchange of
information, not only with the pawn-
shops, where most of the fenced
february 2009
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