- 291 over speeding cases recorded
- Spike in crime recorded
Police in Maun have recorded a sharp increase in both crime and traffic violations during the festive season as compared to the previous year: with significant surges in drunken driving, over speeding and house break-ins.
According to Assistant Superintendent Michael Bagai of Maun Police, drunken driving cases escalated to 291 from just 49 in the previous year, while over speeding incidents rose to 291 from 42 cases.
Weighing on these alarming figures, Bagai commented; “the rise in these cases was a direct result of people being overjoyed during the festive season and, unfortunately, making irresponsible decisions that led to breaking the law.”
He continued, “our presence on the road allowed us to catch many of these cases early, potentially preventing major accidents. Drunken driving and over speeding significantly increase the probability of severe or fatal accidents.”
Additionally, the assistant Superintendent revealed that house break-ins also saw a worrying rise, with recorded cases jumping to 11 compared to 3 in the previous year.
According to him, this spike was largely due to homeowners leaving their properties unattended. He elaborated, “these crimes showed a troubling trend, as thieves specifically targeted empty homes. In all cases, large items like fridges and chairs were stolen, indicating that the culprits had access to vehicles to transport the goods. The nature of these crimes also highlighted lapses in neighborhood watch systems.”
Threat to kill also rose from 1 case of last year before to 3 cases indicating a significant increase. Assistant Superintendent Bagai revealed that cases of rape remained unchanged with four incidents reported both this year and the last.
On a positive note, Bagai revealed that fatal car accidents decreased. While the number of crashes remained the same at two, fatalities dropped from six in the previous year to two.
Reflecting on the overall festive season, the assistant superintendent expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the public. “This past festive season, we worked hard to ensure a relatively safe environment. While there were spikes in certain crimes, we are thankful that the public was largely cooperative, helping us maintain control and prevent worse outcomes,” he concluded.
