James Debono
Sliema and St Paul’s Bay have emerged as the Maltese localities with the highest number of burglaries in homes.
While St Paul’s Bay has registered the highest amount of burglaries between 2004 and 2008, Sliema had the most burglaries in 2008, increasing from 40 in 2004 to 72 in 2008.
Following reports from residents, Sliema mayor Marina Arrigo has already drawn the attention of the Commissioner of Police about this growing problem and is calling for more police monitoring.
“The growing number of burglaries is probably due to the fact that in Sliema we have a lot of elderly residents,” Arrigo said.
Sliema’s Alternattiva Demokratika councillor Michael Briguglio – himself a victim of a burglary last year – attributed most of the burglaries to the increase in construction sites, which enable potential thieves to have easy access to residences next door, while also getting easy views of residences and their back gardens.
Like Arrigo, he thinks Sliema’s high standard of living and its ageing population could encourage thieves to break in, but he also says the increase of crime is related to the breakdown of community life due to overdevelopment and over-commercialisation.
“More patrols are needed at all hours, not only on the promenade, but also in Sliema’s inner streets,” Briguglio said.
St Paul’s Bay mayor Graziella Galea pointed out that certain parts of the locality are only inhabited during the summer months. “This in itself could be a good reason for break-ins to take place. Obviously those breaking in will take the advantage of having these places not being inhabited for a long number of months every year.”
Another reason cited by Galea for the high number of burglaries in her locality is the presence of so many different people coming from different backgrounds. Galea thinks the presence of policemen on the beat, whether on foot or by car, could deter criminals.
“The re-opening of the police station at St Paul’s Bay as soon as possible would provide supervision in the area, since currently the only police station is that situated at Qawra/Bugibba,” Galea said.
Due to the large size of the locality – which includes Bugibba, Burmarrad, Bidnija and St Paul’s Bay – Galea will be requesting more information to identify which areas are more prone to burglaries. “In this way more vigilance is concentrated in the areas that are more prone to criminal action.”
Criminologist Saviour Formosa says the high rate of burglaries in localities like Sliema, is linked to the lack of social cohesion, resulting in lack of support for potential victims such as the elderly.
He says commercial development attracts persons who then commit offences in the areas close by – as happens in Swieqi due to its proximity to Paceville. “It is time to call out loudly for a real neighbourhood watch. All attempts failed and any new ones must not have sole input from residents but also the entrepreneurs who have a responsibility to mitigate their own levels of attractiveness that is having a ripple effect on the communities,” Formosa said.
Marsa – few burglaries Surprisingly Marsa, which right-wingers gave a bad reputation solely due to the presence of the open centre for asylum seekers, emerged as one of the safest localities in Malta in terms of house burglaries. In fact only two burglaries took place in Marsa last year.
The number of burglaries in this locality declined from 21 in 2005 to six in 2007 and two in 2008. Likewise, Gudja, Dingli, Xghajra, and Safi registered two burglaries, again despite the presence of another open centre in the latter locality.
The number of burglaries in Birzebbugia, another locality frequented by migrants due to its proximity to Hal Far and Safi, has also declined from 22 in 2004 to 16 in 2008.
Small Gozitan villages with a strong sense of community are the safest places to live in: only one burglary was recorded in Mqabba and Mdina (Malta), and Fontana, Sannat and San Lawrenz (Gozo) and nil in Gharb, Ghasri and Qala.
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