KOTA KINABALU: Newspapers left unattended in homes are a reason why these premises are targeted by burglars, said the state police commissioner.
Datuk Jauteh Dikun said there were 262 house burglaries this year compared with 228 during the same period last year.
He said syndicates were targeting rich homes where occupants could be away briefly.
"So based on the number of newspapers left in the porch of a home, burglars will get an idea (whether to break in)."
He said he hoped occupants would not leave clues indicating they were away. People could also inform the police if they were going away, he added.
Jauteh said police had crippled four groups — Arrino, Gurun, Rizal and Yogi — comprising 12 people involved in break-ins.
Through these arrests, police had solved 14 burglaries involving safe boxes with a value worth RM1.361 million.
Meanwhile, he said, there would be 283 personnel on standby for Op Selamat starting April 8.
As for Op Pintu during Hari Raya, 1,124 policemen would be on standby.