Crime: What is the Corona security situation?
Covid-19 forces the working population into the home office. However, offices and stores are deserted - is this being exploited by criminal elements? The scammers are in full swing.
Residential burglaries are probably not at the top of criminals' priority list at the moment, because men and women are increasingly working at home. Where is crime shifting, are gangs and petty criminals increasingly moving to abandoned office and commercial properties? "At the moment, we are not noticing this. But it is also too early to give a reliable answer. Even in Corona-free times, we keep noticing ripples in the number of burglaries," said Hanspeter Krüsi, head of communications at the St.Gallen cantonal police, a few days ago, for example. (Burglary protection, see brochure "Bolt it!", 7 tips on how to protect yourself; special specialized information on Burglar resistance for windows)
St.Gallen: Security situation is communicated regularly
Because the cantonal police St.Gallen is increasingly asked about the security situation, it has decided to publish daily the reported burglaries and cases of interventions in the interpersonal area (see photo). On Thursday, March 26, for example, this sounded like this: "The cantonal police St.Gallen was informed several times by telephone that there were groups with several young people in various places. During the subsequent checks, no violations were found in the majority of cases. In a few cases, smaller groups of people had to be made aware of the current situation again and sent away. In addition, several red light checks were carried out, and sales outlets and takeaways were inspected. No violations were found. In two restaurants people were entertained on a small scale. It was made unmistakably clear to the operators that this is no longer permitted. They were asked to cease operations immediately. In the event of a further violation, the innkeepers will be reported to the police. In the Linth region, a 60-year-old man who had previously tested positive for the coronavirus died. In the interpersonal area, interventions had to be made three times."
The regularly reported figures on the security situation are relative and subject to strong fluctuations. Therefore, they should be considered with caution, the cantonal police of St.Gallen informs.
City of Zurich: several fraud attempts
The Zurich City Police (Stapo) issued a prophylactic warning a few days ago against fraudsters who would shamelessly exploit the exceptional situation in Switzerland. According to the Stapo, there have recently been scams and attempted scams in various places in Switzerland and also in the city of Zurich: Unknown persons had offered their help to elderly people at their front door in connection with the coronavirus, so that they would not put themselves in unnecessary danger for shopping. "They demanded a shopping list and cash and promised to be back after a short time. It then quickly turned out that the elderly people had become victims of fraudsters who never showed up again," writes the police.
Another scam, he said, was for people wearing face masks to ring the doorbell and claim they had been ordered by an agency to disinfect the apartment.
Basel: fake policemen in times of Corona
Even in the current emergency, no police officer demands that people hand over money or valuables as security. But that is exactly what has happened again in the Basel area. About a dozen reports had been received by the cantonal police in the last few days. Concerned citizens reported to the cantonal police that they had been asked by a "criminal investigation officer", a "police officer", a "commissioner" or by the "public prosecutor's office" to hand over money and valuables for security reasons. According to her, in the current emergency, the perpetrators probably assume that elderly people currently keep larger amounts of money at home.
In the canton of Aargau, too, an accumulation of telephone scams with fake police officers has been noticed. No less than 60 reports from victims have been received in the last two weeks, according to the cantonal police. Behind the fraud calls are mostly professional gangs operating from abroad.
Active cybercriminals, counterfeit drugs
The uncertainty surrounding the Corona crisis is spurring cybercriminals in particular. Corona virus-related phishing scams are circulating in droves. For example, a fake e-mail was sent in the name of the Federal Office of Public Health (see here). If you open the attachment, you will have very dangerous malware on your device. Once clicked, one has no choice but to reboot the PC or visit the computer specialist.
But counterfeit medicines, alleged disinfectant sprays and miracle cures are also advertised online via e-mail and the Internet. The number is staggeringly high, according to the European Union. However, the most common medical products currently offered online are counterfeit surgical masks. The EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently said that everything possible was being done to combat the problem and protect citizens. Video message can be found here can be viewed).
Guarding service provider in use
Security service providers are also being called into action in the Corona crisis. According to Urs Stadler of the Securitas Group, access to care facilities, retail stores and companies must be more strictly controlled. In addition to checking people at the entrance, his people also have to take temperature measurements here and there before they enter the building, said Roman Lehmann of Protectas when asked.
Urs Stadler adds that Securitas is setting up an uncomplicated service to help people who need to retreat to their living quarters. If family or neighborly help is not enough, his company makes its available capabilities and mobility available to run errands for a contribution to expenses, Stadler says.
