You may want to know who professional thieves are. Professional thieves are persons who manifest highly-developed career behaviour patterns characterised by nonviolence, a high degree of skill, loyalty towards the loosely organised group rather than toward individuals and associate with other professionals as opposed to amateur criminals, as people who careers with few arrests, and an outlook that views non-criminals as people who deserve to be victimised.
Some professional thieves work alone. Those who most people know are occasional thieves. Occasional thieve may steal for something they need; employees may embezzle money from their employers. Such people may steal consistently over a number of years but never develop the skills, techniques and attitudes of professional thieves.
Other criminals are considered, and consider themselves, trained professionals. They possess the skills, techniques and attitudes that are common to many professional people. They usually steal for profit. They may have long careers in crime, during which they serve prison terms at Her Majesty Prison, A.K.A. 1840, one of the hazards of their occupation.
So, during this Carnival Season when walking in the streets of Basseterre or elsewhere, always be alert to your surroundings and the people around you. Professional thieves take advantage of this time of the year to target their victims. So, try to stay in well-lit areas. Walk confidently at a steady pace on the side of the street facing traffic. Also walk close to the curb. Avoid doorways, bushes and alleys. Do not walk alone at nights and always avoid areas where there are few people. Be careful when people stop you for directions. Always reply from a distance and never get too close.
When walking though the crowds in downtown Basseterre, at the Sugar Mill or jamming with the street bands, make sure that your cash and other valuables are well secured from those who specialise in pocket picking and necklace snatching.
These professional thieves are in the business to cash in on opportunities and are versatile because of what they call ‘Hustling’, which means using all available means for victimising others to make illegal gains for themselves, such robbery, larceny from the person, increasing the price on drinks and other products to 300% and more, and so on.
If you are confronted or in a threatening situation with a professional thief or thieves, attract help any way you can. Scream, yell for help, or yell…“Police”! Please carry as little cash as possible. If you need more cash, use the ATMs which are available. If a professional thief attacks or tries to rob you, do not resist unless you feel your life is in danger and you believe it is in your best interest. Remain calm and get the best possible description of him or her or them, starting from the head and working down to the feet. And if robbed and or assaulted, report it to the police immediately.
Let us applied these safety measures during this season in order to combat professional thieves and have a Happy and Incident Free Season.
