Malta was always known to be a safe country. Most violent crime has been limited to crimes of passion or arguments about property or money. Just a few years ago, even pick-pocketing was almost unheard of.

But as Malta has become more modern and life began to change, so has the pattern of crimes that are committed. Violent crime has been on the increase, as has petty theft and burglary. There are many reasons and some of these are obvious – such as alcohol and drug induced violence. Drug addiction is another cause of theft statistics soaring upwards as addicts take to crime to sustain their habits.

But what is even more worrying is the huge increase in organised crime – in terms of gangs that go around and either burgle houses or mug people in the street. The police believe that most of them are Eastern Europeans. People in affected areas, such as Sliema, St Julian’s and Qawra, have expressed real fear of going out because so many people seem to have been affected. Many are demanding increased police presence on the street to deter criminals from targeting them.

But is that enough? Sliema, St Julian’s and Qawra are places where thieves can blend in. They would not, for example, find it as easy to traipse around Safi or Zurrieq where people know each other and non-residents stick out like sore thumbs.

But there is the danger that thieves would simply move around to other commercial centres  such as Hamrun or Mosta or Rabat. Once attention is turned there, they would simply swap tack and go back to another hunting ground.

Of course, police presence on the streets would definitely help in preventing muggings and bag-snatching. But, at the end of the day, police cannot be on a constant patrol. Unfortunately, Malta has changed for good and the best thing that people can do is make sure that their homes are as secure as possible.

We have taken things for granted for far too long and in the year 2014, it is time for private and personal security. It is an expense, of course, but households should have new and up to date locks that can resist skeleton keys. Door fittings can be made more secure and the use of double-doors and double glazing also provide more security.

Another issue which needs to be taken more seriously is that of a Neighbourhood Watch type of scheme where residents would conduct their own patrols and then report and suspicious activity to the police. It works in other countries where the problem is much bigger – such as the UK – so it ought to help here.  Crime is a growing trend and Malta needs to step up its fight against it. Thieves are becoming more and more ingenious and investigators need to think outside the box - just as the thieves do. The police’s idea of liasing with their European counterparts will help in establishing whether fingerprints match – but we need a new and modern approach to combat this new and increasing phenomenon.