KOTA KINABALU, Dec. 20 -- Overall crime in the city dropped five per cent this year to 1,099 cases from 1,156 last year, with house break-ins recording the biggest decline, particularly in Luyang, which saw 56 fewer cases, said city police chief ACP Kasim Muda.

Speaking at a Christmas road safety programme at Kingfisher on Saturday, Kasim said negligence remained the main cause of house break-ins, thefts and road accidents, urging the public to take basic safety precautions during the festive season and school holidays.

He said police will deploy more than 200 personnel in crime prevention and traffic operations from Dec 23 until year-end, with a special integrated traffic operation on Dec 30 to Jan 1, covering Kota Kinabalu, Inanam, Te...