Lesson 33

  Lesson 33

                      Thieves Beware : People See You

                                       Text A

    Each year car theft costs us about ￡300 million, and burglary sets us back by another ￡150 million.
    Yet the police reckon that one car in five is left unlocked, or with windows open, or with expensive goods temptingly on display. It is estimated that over 60% of homes still do not have any window locks (although that's better than a few years ago when it was nearer 90% ) .
    These facts illustrate a basic truth.

    The truth is that most criminals are on the lookout for a soft touch. They are not hardened "professionals" who set out with particular targets in mind, but young, inexperienced or unsophisticated.
    What they're looking for is a house or car that will let them get in, get what they want and get away quickly.
    In short, an easy opportunity.

    Many of these opportunities can just as easily be removed. By fitting and using locks. Or by taking other very simple precautions.
    And if we can foil small-time criminals with modest individual effort and cost, how much more could be achieved by working together in Neighbourhood Watches ( there are forty-two thousand already)? Or in other local activities involving police, councils, businesses, voluntary groups and schools?

    More radically still, what might we see if more systematic effort was made to design anti-crime features into cars, houses and estates?
    This is not a pipe dream: it's already happening.
    Take housing. There is a growing awareness of how the design, layout and construction of houses and estates can affect the incidence of crime.
    Many police forces are now appointing specialist architectural liaison officers in their crime prevention departments.

    A new British Standard has been published. Some builders are now building security features  into new housing projects.
    Or cars. The Institute for Consumer Ergonomics at I,oughborough University carried out a research project into automobile security which was presented to the motor industry at a special Home Office conference.
    Some manufacturers are now fitting better security on the production line. Some magazine road tests regularly report on the subject.

    About 95% of crirnes are against property rather than people. But, not surprisingly, it is the remaining 5% --assault, mugging and rape, for example-that causes the most comment and concern.
    But even thugs look for easy opportunities. The dark alley,
the pensioner who doesn't check callers' credentials, the child who accepts a lift from a stranger. These can be reduced by personal and community action.

    For example, because all of us feel vulnerable sometimes, police and other experts have devised simple, sensible precaution which individuals can adopt to help minimise the risk of being
attacked.

　

                                            Text B

    You can't miss the neighbourhood watch people, or "old auntie". as they are sometimes called. As in neighbourhoods all over Beijing. they wear red armbands and sit on small chairs in lances off Wenjia Street downtown.
    If you are a stranger there and your behaviour arouses their suspicion, you are likely to be stopped for questions, such as whom you are looking for and where you are from.

    You needn't worry about theft if you live in the area and forget to lock the door of your house; the aunties will lock it during their daily inspection tour past every house in -the community. But remember, a severe criticism of your carelessness will follow.
    Their presence may be one reason the 426-household community with about 1,200 residents has been free from theft, burglary and other criminal acts for almost 10 years.

    Every community member is encouraged by their neighbourhood residents' committee to remain alert for possible theft and to contribute an individual effort to the maintenance of a safe environ

┨网页设计特效库┠ http://www。z┗co⊙l。com/网页特效/