Special initiative
Given the number of break ins seen over recent weeks, the Jandarma wants to try another initiative for the next two weeks only. Many burglaries are taking place when people go out for the evening. The Kalkan Jandarma already has patrols in different parts of Kalkan, in the evenings, and late at night.

For the next few weeks, if you have registered with the Emergency ID number scheme, and you are going out for the evening, leaving your property unoccupied, you are invited to phone the Jandarma, to tell them.

Give them your name and your unique Emergency ID number, and they will then pass this information on to the officers who are patrolling the streets, so that they can be aware.

Clearly, this can only be only a short term initiative, which has been proposed in response to the recent spate of late night break ins. It is not something that could be sustained in the main tourist season. But it does demonstrate how keen they are to tackle this current problem.

If you wish to take advantage of this offer from the Jandarma, you can call them on 0242 844 3005. If you don't speak Turkish, you can ask to be put through to someone who speaks English.

A message from the Jandarma
But returning to what we said at the beginning of this report - the message that the Jandarma has asked us to pass on. 

Perhaps the most important part of their message, is that they need good quality information from us, the community, if they are to apprehend these burglars. They are urging all of us to be their eyes and ears, and pass on anything that may help identify, and locate them.

To this end, we have been working with the Jandarma, to create a couple of new documents in English, to make it easier for foreigners to provide information in their own language.  We do of course, appreciate that there are other nationalities in Kalkan, but British people are easily the largest foreign group here.

These forms are available at the Jandarma station, or you can download them from KTLN, (at the bottom of this page).

Incident report
This is a form that can be used when you spot something suspicious going on, and you want to pass on details to the Jandarma, for them to follow up.

It provides a structure to your feedback, and gives you helpful prompts. However, it does not mean that you can only provide information in this format.  You may contact the Jandarma in any way you think is appropriate. Indeed, if the matter is urgent, you may wish to make an immediate phone call on 0242 844 3005.

This incident report form should simply be seen as an aide memoire, if you wish to use it.  If you have experience of the UK Neighbourhood Watch scheme, the form may look familiar to you.

Burglary report
If you are unfortunate enough to be burgled, the burglary report form provides a structure, to help you pass on essential information to the Jandarma.  It has helpful prompts to ensure you don't forget to mention something that could be important to the investigation.

Again, there is no compulsion to complete this form, however it will help the Jandarma in their task of tracing the person(s) responsible, so it is hoped that victims will fill it in.

Just to be clear, this form is in addition to the normal Jandarma response, to such incidents.

Advice from the Jandarma
The final page of the burglary report form contains advice from the Jandarma, which may help to mitigate the risk of being chosen as a target in the first place.  We replicate that advice below.

If you have a property in Kalkan, please take time to read it.  It's for your benefit.

Security precautions – Advice from the Jandarma

In the light of recent burglaries, we would offer the following advice, for your consideration.

Secure your property
Please think about what you can do to improve the security of your own property. Recent burglaries in the area have highlighted the fact that some properties have weak security in place.

Properties which must have cost a significant sum of money to buy, appear to have had very little spent on even the most basic security, such as good quality window locks.

Be observant
You should be vigilant, and be aware of strangers in the vicinity of your property.

If you notice anything odd or out of the ordinary, do not hesitate to call the Jandarma - any time, day or night.

If possible, write down details at the time. If you don’t have a pen and paper, consider typing details in your mobile phone, as a text message. If your mobile can take photos, take one.

Things to watch out for:

An unknown vehicle (car or scooter), driving past your house – maybe slowly, or going up and down, or perhaps parked up in a place where people do not normally park. If the car or scooter has no number plate, or an obscured number plate, you should be more suspicious.

A person walking past your house – perhaps slowly, looking round, or walking up and down the road. Or is someone loitering, apparently waiting for someone – possibly chatting on a mobile phone? Do they have a holdall or bag?

A person coming to your house and asking for something - e.g. asking for a glass of water.

A person coming to your house selling something, or perhaps asking if you have ordered a takeaway meal, (when you have not ordered one).

Think about things that look out of place, such as people wearing ‘hoodies’ on a hot day, or wearing a baseball cap and dark glasses when it is not sunny, or carrying an awkward object.

Help us to help you
The Jandarma is serious about tackling crime, but your help is needed to provide information, that we can act on.  Please help us to help you.