Joint plan on crime

Karratha police have teamed up with a local government-led community safety group to instigate new crime prevention strategies after a spate of burglary and stealing arrests in March.

There have been 21 more burglaries and 94 more cases of stealing from January to March this year compared to the same period in 2014.

Inspector Brett Ranford said despite this, the numbers for all reported crime in the region had continued to trend downwards with the statistics for this financial year so far the lowest in five years.

Together with the City of Karratha's Cleansweep Taskforce, police have rolled out two new crime initiatives.

Insp. Ranford said the first was the deployment of a variable message sign notifying residents burglars were active in their area.

The second initiative was called "cocooning".

"Residents who live in the vicinity of a house that has been burgled will receive a pamphlet warning that a burglary has occurred in their street and also provide some useful home security advice," Insp. Ranford said.

"Our research has shown there is a high probability that the offender may return to either the same house or neighbours' premises in the following weeks.

"It is important for the community to understand if they receive this pamphlet they are at heightened risk of being burgled."

City Mayor Peter Long said the Cleansweep Taskforce encouraged residents to properly secure their homes.

Of the 40 reported burglaries last month in Karratha, 32 per cent of premises were unlocked.

Twelve vehicles were stolen in March and in five instances the keys had been left out, in areas like the patio table, while 14 out of 16 vehicles that were stolen from were unlocked.

Both organisations want residents to contact police rather than using social media to catch the crooks.

Insp. Ranford said if members of the community contacted police when they saw suspicious activity police could form a bigger picture of what was happening in town and where, so they could deploy resources to the right areas.

Last week, targeted patrols were instrumental in the arrest of an 18-year-old man who has been remanded in custody on burglary and stealing charges.