Police have called for vigilance following a spate of burglaries in recent weeks that have specifically targeted items of gold.
The spike is believed to be connected with the lucrative market price for gold, amid a major media publicity campaign advertising the potential yield on jewellery.
“The return on gold is currently phenomenal and we are concerned at the figures related to criminals stealing gold,” Superintendent Silvio Valletta told The SundayTimes.
Police statistics reveal that scores of homes have been targeted by thieves in recent months, the latest occurring last Thursday when a woman disturbed two burglars who were stealing jewellery from her home in Iklin.
The weeks leading up to Christmas are always a headache for police, but this year they have to contend with criminals enticed by lucrative returns on gold items.
The price of gold is high because it is considered the safest option for investors during periods of crisis. It is yielding such good rewards that at least one Maltese family is funding an entire wedding on the returns from selling its gold items, according to sources.
The Maltese still own a lot of gold, most of it dating back to the 1970s when money in banks was heavily taxed, according to Remy Said from Said of Zachary Street, Valletta.
But now there is also a general feeling among clients that their gold at home is not always safe.
However, Mr Said is also aware that jewellers and gold buyers are also a prime target.
“We stepped up security a year ago, and we’re about to do the same now,” he said.
Jewellers shops are bound by law to register the identity card details of any client who sells them gold items, which could help police weed out thieves during investigations, Supt. Valletta said. The top police official believes a good number of home break-ins were committed by drug addicts to sustain their habit. However, crime always increases during times of economic slowdown.
A 35-year-old woman recounted the shock when she discovered someone had broken into her parents’ home in Naxxar while they were abroad.
“I felt shock and disgust when I saw the bedrooms. They invaded my space and I feel my privacy has been invaded after these burglars rummaged through my things,” said the woman, who preferred to remain unnamed.
She spoke of the discomfort of acknowledging that her parents’ home was probably monitored by thieves for days before they broke in.
“Among other items, they stole my father’s wedding ring – some things are priceless and irreplaceable.”
The police told the woman that the burglars had clearly set their sights on jewellery and cash, leaving other bulky expensive items, like paintings, untouched.
Recent burglaries and robberies have clearly shown that criminals have become more sophisticated and creative, bent on covering their tracks, which in turn has forced police to change the traditional patterns of investigation.
Supt. Valletta also underlined the problems police often faced in solving residential burglaries because of a lack of cooperation from neighbours.
“Of course, we are aware our legal system disincentivises people from coming forward to help the police because of the inconvenience of having to testify in court, and the fact Top 10 localities’ residences targeted between January 1 and October 31: St Julian’s Sliema St Paul’s Bay Mosta Qormi San Ġwann Attard Msida Birkirkara Swieqi that such witnesses have to face the accused in court. This, of course, makes our job even more difficult,” he said.
The police believe families in general have become more aware about the potential risks of burglary and are keeping less cash at home.
However, there are still several precautions many could take to reduce the possibility of crime, especially at a time when jewellery has become a magnet.
For example, a light source should be left on when the family is overseas. Likewise, people should not give any indication that they are not at home – such as leaving a plastic bag outside the door for the bread man. Any available CCTV should be working properly and clear.