A prank involving a man tied up in a sheet and dumped on the street by his friends provoked a “frenzy” in the community but proved how police have stepped up their patrols, according to Cabinet Minister Wayne Perinchief.The National Security Minister referred to the incident, which happened a week ago, in a statement to MPs yesterday on the crime figures for the first three months of 2012.“The release of crime statistics is inevitably a mixed bag of results and information,” he said. “Trends and definitive percentages cannot resolve that key component of public confidence in the safety and security of the country.“One need only look at the frenzy that accompanied the incident that we learned was purely a prank. Before the facts were known, anonymous commentators sought to paint it as a random act of violence.“The real story was the fact that increased police patrols using regular and reserve officers was at the heart of the early detection of even this occurrence.”As reported earlier this week, a 50-year-old man was found dumped on a Pembroke street, wrapped in a sheet, with his feet and hands tied up, late at night last Saturday.Police had seen three men carrying a “long object” but they fled when officers approached. When the object was unwrapped, it turned out to be the man.He was uninjured and a friend later told ZBM television news it was a prank to highlight alcohol awareness month.Mr Perinchief said in the House of Assembly the latest statistics showed crime was on a downward trend in general, despite a high number of burglaries in the first quarter.“At 237 offences, residential burglary is at its highest level in four years,” he said. “This means that we must take care to secure our homes. Lock doors and windows and generally make our homes secure when we are not there.“Additionally, Neighbourhood Watch groups can and do play an important part in preventing these crimes of opportunity. I encourage residents to report suspicious happenings and people in the neighbourhood.“Look out for that neighbour’s property while you are at home and they might be at work.“Community-based solutions will make the job of enforcement more efficient and will send the message to thieves and burglars that they will be caught.”Mr Perinchief said a recent series of home invasions were “shocking and rightly caused anxiety in the community” but added: “In the wake of those crimes, 19 arrests were made and 11 persons have been charged before the courts.“Swift action and sound investigation has led to strong cases being prepared in support of the pursuit of justice.”He noted the five Supreme Court gun-related trials this year, resulting in seven convictions for “various serious offences with significant sentences of imprisonment”.The Minister said: “Bermuda Police Service continues to fulfill its mandate of making Bermuda safer and they do so with the continued support of partner agencies like HM Customs and the wider community.”