The Bureta Street Crime Prevention Youth have starting patrolling the neighbourhood after increasing cases of break-ins in the area.
While the urgent call for increased crime-prevention measures and police patrols has been made by residents of Bureta Street and Levuka Street in Samabula North and Lami following increasing reports of break-ins in these areas, the youth in the Samabula area took quick action to ensure the neighbourhood is safe.
Thieves are getting daring as one of the houses was broken into by chipping the cement and opening the door lock at Bureta Street last week. They then got away with items while the family members were sleeping in the house.
Another two houses were also targeted.
On Tuesday, a man was taken in from Levuka Street as he was armed with a knife and trespassing into several properties.
The residents have decided to form youth teams to conduct regular checks due to increasing criminal activities.
[SOURCE: Bureta Street Crime Prevention Youth]
Residents from the Lami area are also raising concerns and calling for Police action due to the increase in robberies and break-ins.
When questioned by fijivillage News, Divisional Police Commander South SSP Wate Vocevoce said the first case in Bureta Street was at the home of a 62 year old man. He says the victim was woken up by some noise and they saw that their house was ransacked. The second case involved a 60 year old man where he was about to make bread deliveries and discovered a tray of bread missing from the truck. He says for this case the victim did not want further Police action.
SSP Vocevoce says for the man walking around with the knife in Levuka Street, he was searching for coconuts to sell. He says the man says he often sells in the area and did not mean to create panic however Police are trying to reach out to the complainant.
SSP Vocevoce says as for the Lami issues, there have been constant house to house visits with the crime prevention committee chairs working closely with police.
He urges members of the communities to lodge reports if there are cases as the sharing of information is important.
We have sent questions to Police on what are their planned actions as the Bureta St/Levuka St Crime Prevention Youth start patrolling the streets to keep their neighbourhood safe.
