Palma.Only last week the Bulletin reported that a British couple had been robbed of an estimated 50'000 euros worth of valuables from their holiday home in S'Arraco while out for lunch but yesterday, the central Government Delegate to the Balearics, reported that breaks-ins in Majorca have fallen by 14.7 percent already this year.
The main reason is that the Guardia Civil and, to a lesser extent, the National Police have significantly stepped up their patrols in rural areas favoured by wealthy second home owners.
Even a special Guardia Civil unit from Valencia is currently on the island helping their colleagues here improve their skills.
Central Government Delegate Teresa Palmer said that the overall crime rate has fallen by seven percent but the number of drug related incidents has risen as has the number of traffic offenses. However, with regards to the crack down on organised gangs breaking into houses, Palmer explained that a series of special operations have been carried out in Alcudia, Pollensa, Calvia, Maria de la Salut, Sencelles, Ariany, Vilafranca, Lluchmajor, Felanitx, Campos, ses Salinmes, Capdepera and Cala Rajada.
The most successful operation was Operation Kraken which led to the dismantling of an armed gang of four former Eastern European para militaries which had been targeting properties in Calvia and Lluchmajor.
On the whole, Palmer said that the decline in the crime rate during the first quarter of this year was positive news, although the rise in drug related offenses is worrying.