Sunday, December 24, 2006 Anti-theft cops give up holiday break
WHILE most policemen have divided their tasks so they can celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays, personnel of Cebu City’s Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) will be hard at work trying to prevent crime.
It’s during this time of the year that they are needed most, Senior Insp. Alexis Relado told reporters yesterday.
“I explained to them that now is the time that they are most needed. Anyway, taga rito naman sila. Ako nga galing pa Iloilo. Sincere naman sila na okay lang (At least they are from here. I’m from Iloilo. They seemed sincere when they said it would be okay),” Relado said.
The TRS has been securing those who attend the Misa de Gallo, while section members constantly rove the city’s streets.
It has also tapped members of the barangay intelligence network to make their presence known in different churches.
Relado explained that this was part of his “proactive” approach to preventing crime.
He said he no longer allows his operatives to stay put in the office and wait for calls for assistance.
Instead, he ordered them to patrol crime-prone areas and serve arrest warrants for those wanted for theft or robbery cases.
The TRS has three reaction teams and a special operations team.
Two of the reaction teams are on duty each day while the third team takes a break.
Relado said the special operations team, which is headed by Insp. Michael Bastes, works everyday.
He said the number of robbery and theft incidents has gone down, which is why he believes the proactive approach is effective. (MEA)
