A PROLIFIC burglar who allegedly stole the Police Commander's wallet and watch while he was sleeping has been arrested and charged, while a large amount of stolen property including 11 laptops and electronic goods has been recovered.

Police Comdr Chris Kelley today said that police had charged a 35-year-old man in relation to a large number of house burglaries on Tongatapu that included the Police Commander's own home in December last year.

He said in the last few days a special police investigation into house-breakings had successfully recovered a large amount of the stolen property, including his own watch and empty wallet, but the cash was not recovered. The Police Commander said he was sleeping at his home and the burglar cheekily broke in and stole his wallet and watch. These were returned to him by members of his housebreaking squad this morning.

Other stolen properties recovered and displayed to the local media, included 11 laptops, a large quantity of Tonga handicrafts, cameras, mobile phones and other electronic equipment.

The housebreaking team reported they had solved 28 house burglary cases where a total of $47,743 worth of property stolen. They had recovered a considerable amount of that property and the investigation was continuing.

Cracking down on receiving

At the same time police are also cracking down on people who are receiving the stolen properties sold to them by the burglars.

Comdr Kelley said a 24-year-old Asian man had been arrested for receiving most of the stolen property recovered and he would face numerous charges in relation to the contents of these houses that had been burgled.

"Your home is your castle and I, the police and the courts have no sympathy to these people who violate your home and steal from you and similarly those people who receive these stolen property."

"We are coming down hard on those who receive the stolen property because they create a market for this crime. Without the receiver there would be no market for burglaries," he said.

Tongan market

He said from their investigation the stolen goods were not shipped out of Tonga but there was a market here in Tonga. He therefore asked the public to assist the police with any information that could further assist in cracking down on this crime.

"A lot of people have suffered immense heartache because their lifetime of work and pictures are gone when their laptops are stolen. Similarly are those people whose livelihood has also been affected when their valuable handicrafts are stolen," he said.

The Commander added the burglaries target certain people who have these properties and there are organised groups behind it. His housebreaking investigation squad continued to work on other groups of offenders and he expected more arrests in the future.

He added another real concern to the police is the lack of legal obligations on people who loan money and accept property as a surety for loans. "This is an area that we will report to government for future consideration," he said.

"This week's results should give the public confidence in our ability to investigate and solve offences."

The Commander thanked the public for their assistance in this operation.