Some 75% of thefts on Scilly could have been avoided, a police officer has said.
Islands’ Pc Tony Kan conducted his own community safety survey over three successive night duties and found 20 vehicles insecure in the Hugh Town area alone.
‘Lots of people leave keys in cars and doors unlocked,” he told ScillyNews. “They don’t take the normal precautions people on the mainland would.
‘While we don’t have to worry about a lot of crime as Scilly is very safe, I?m concerned about the drunk who leaves the pub and thinks it would be good to race around the Islands in a car.?
He said last year a group of drunk fishermen had been on a crime spree around the Islands, picking up vehicles and abandoning them.
‘These things could have disastrous consequences. People could end up getting killed,? he said.
Three St Mary’s men were recently given 12 month supervision orders and a total of 300 hours of community service after admitting a spate of burglaries and thefts on a single night in January.
A fourth was referred to Truro Magistrates’ Court for sentencing over the same incidents.
‘The police are working hard to keep these Islands safe,? said Pc Kan.
‘This is a message to anyone who considers committing crimes. You will be caught and given the appropriate sentence, i.e. community service on the Islands or prison.?