Why thievery continues in Boracay

Curbing thievery in this island resort is difficult, and it is not merely because the continued rise in the number of local and foreign tourists bodes well for the culprits, according to the police.

Totally getting rid thieves may be a challenge, especially if they are not charged after their arrest, a spokesperson for the Aklan Police Provincial Office said.

A total of 311 theft incidents were recorded in Boracay during the first quarter, Senior Police Officer 1 Nida Gregas said, citing provincial police data.

In 2016 Boracay posted 251 theft incidents in the first quarter, 188 in the second quarter, 201 in the third quarter, and 247 in the last quarter — for a total of 887 incidents.

Aklan police “continue to monitor theft cases in Boracay in the second quarter of this year,” Gregas said on Monday.

According to Gregas, the rising number of tourists is giving thieves a lot of opportunities.

And “although the Boracay police are making arrests, perpetrators continue since the victims, who are mostly tourists, are not interested in filing charges, especially once their stolen items are returned,” she said.

All the police could advise the public is to be vigilant — be mindful of your belongings, especially when swimming at the beach — to avoid falling victims to thieves.