As practice shows, with the onset of cold weather, there are those who wish to profit from the goods stored by thrifty townspeople in the basements of houses.
As practice shows, with the onset of cold weather, there are those who wish to profit from the goods stored by thrifty townspeople in the basements of houses.
According to the results of 12 months of 2016, 1 theft of personal property of citizens was committed in the territory of Lepel town and Lepel district (2015 – 1), stored in the basements of residential buildings. 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 value of the 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, and other food supplies are stolen, which are then sold off at bargain prices.
In most cases, the crimes are committed through free access via an open entrance door left ajar to the basement premises. Once inside the basement of apartment buildings, it is not difficult for the perpetrator to choose the right basement and gain entry by damaging the door lock.
Based on the foregoing, the lack of elementary technical reinforcement of these facilities, manifested in the absence of locking devices, sometimes leaving belongings unattended, as well as leaving the entrance doors to the basement premises open, 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 reliably technically reinforcing the door, locking it with a secure lock, or perhaps two, and also not leaving the entrance doors to the basement premises 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 territories 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 individuals in and around the building, and suspicious items located in the basement premises.
In case of suspicion, you should immediately call the police by dialing 102.
Head of the Public Security Police Department of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs
Police Lieutenant Colonel I.A. Mikhno.