Widespread Theft Paranoia Prompts Calls for Municipal Security Action
Theft paranoia is now widespread. People, especially at night, lock themselves indoors, using the most varied security systems. This creates a lucrative business for manufacturers, sellers, and installers of alarm systems, armored doors, grilles, and bolts. Municipalities are trying to combat the rampant phenomenon by expanding local police forces, and some mayors, driven by citizen frustration, advocate for ‘zero tolerance,’ even as they complain about the ineffectiveness of current laws.
Actions for municipal security
The mayor of Porto Mantovano, Remo Pezzali, will request a meeting with the prefect during the week to develop a security project at the ‘Great Mantova’ level. “We can consider the possibility — he specifies — of implementing, with regional funding, a visual control system with cameras, establishing a single operational room for all involved municipalities.”
“We have already implemented evening patrol services for some time. We are increasing the number of municipal police officers; but we can’t do much more. The municipality cannot compensate for the state’s shortcomings. It is the government that must intervene, making security a priority and increasing law enforcement forces.”
Shared solutions and proposals from administrations
Mauro Morselli of San Giorgio is willing to find solutions through coordinated action with other municipalities. Cesare Rubini recalls that a sixth officer is arriving in Curtatone and that a night shift service capable of acting as a deterrent has already been established. Claudio Bertolaso, deputy mayor of Goito, highlights the agreement with Marmirolo and Rodigo for nighttime municipal patrols.
He adds, “We do realize, however, that this minimally addresses the problem. Current controls are inadequate, especially because burglars who are caught are immediately released. Today, too many people, including undocumented migrants, roam the streets without doing anything. We need to ask and verify how they live, and adjust laws accordingly.”
Proposals for alternative methods and considerations on prevention
Adriano Schiavoni, vice-mayor of Rodigo, also considers the agreement for nighttime patrols on the territory to be appropriate but insufficient. “Now — he continues — we are considering the proposal to use private security guards from security companies. But it is primarily the legislature that must intervene.”
According to Giampiero Ligabò of Castel d’Ario, current thefts are “hit-and-run,” so it is better to rely, rather than on sophisticated alarm systems that thieves can easily disable, on sturdy bolts and traditional mechanical defenses, which require robbers to spend more time and effort.
“This,” Ligabò clarifies, “is only a suggestion, not the definitive solution to the problem.”
Security training and approach issues
Claudio Calanca, president of Upa (which includes many artisans involved in security), emphasizes that the problem should be considered during house construction. “But — he continues — our society is unfortunately unprepared on the issue of security, and now, driven by emotionality and anxiety, it resort to empirical systems that often do not produce the expected results.”
“Risk assessment should have been done earlier. Instead, as they say, the stable is closed after the horses have already fled.”.
