As practice shows, with the onset of cold weather, there are those who wish to profit from the property stored by thrifty townspeople in house basements.
As practice shows, with the onset of cold weather, there are those who wish to profit from the property stored by thrifty townspeople in house basements.
In 2020, 4 thefts of citizens' personal property were committed from basements in the town of Lepel (2019 – 3), stored in the basements of residential apartment buildings. In 4 cases, citizens' personal property served as the objects of criminal encroachment. These are only the cases where a criminal case was initiated under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. If the amount of stolen property is less than 10 basic units, a criminal case is not initiated due to the insignificance of the damage caused, and there are also many such cases.
Very often, jars of pickles, potatoes, other food supplies, as well as bicycles are stolen, which are then sold off at bargain prices.
In most cases, crimes are committed through free access via an left open entrance door to the basement premises, and once inside the basement of apartment buildings, it is not difficult for the perpetrator to choose the right basement and gain access by damaging the door lock.
Based on the foregoing, the lack of elementary technical security of these facilities, manifested in the absence of locking devices, sometimes leaving belongings unattended, as well as leaving the door to the basement unlocked, are the main reasons and conditions contributing to the commission of such thefts.
Therefore, to prevent your property stored in the basement or utility room from becoming the object of an unlawful act, we recommend technically reinforcing the door reliably, locking it with a secure lock, or even two, and also not leaving the entrance doors to the basement of apartment buildings open.
A very effective method for both prevention and detection of committed crimes is the equipping of entrances to multi-story buildings and adjacent areas with video surveillance systems.
A sign stating "The facility is equipped with video surveillance" has a very sobering effect on offenders, including basement thieves.
The Internal Affairs Department of the Lepel District Executive Committee urges you to be especially vigilant regarding unfamiliar suspicious people in and around the building, suspicious
items located in basement premises.In case of suspicion, the police should be immediately called at 102.
Head of the Public Security Police Department of Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs
Police Lieutenant Colonel Mikhno I.A.