Police strengthen vigilance after a spate of burglaries in areas affected by the Kumamoto earthquake

Burglaries are occurring one after another in areas affected by the Kumamoto earthquake. Approximately 100 members of the ``Special Security Unit,'' made up of police officers dispatched from each prefecture in Kyushu, are patrolling 24 hours a day, focusing on Yatsushiro City, Uki City, and Hikawa Town, which were particularly hard hit by the earthquake, and are increasing their vigilance.

As of the 20th, damage to approximately 2,500 homes was confirmed in Yatsushiro City. On the 19th, five Miyazaki Prefectural Police officers went door-to-door asking residents to lock their doors and call 110 if they saw anyone suspicious. At night, they shined a light into the gaps in the walls of damaged houses and checked every nook and cranny to see if any suspicious persons were lurking.

A woman in her 80s said, ``I've become more conscious of locking my door.It's really reassuring when a police officer comes.'' Inspector Shinji Oka (45) of the Miyazaki Prefectural Police Foreign Affairs Division, who was on patrol, said, ``I'm happy when I hear 'thank you' from the residents. It's encouraging.''