A wave of thefts and break-ins at Bau Landing has prompted renewed calls from residents for a permanent police presence in the area.
In a social media post, Tunitoga Jack Aisea Komaitai detailed a series of recent criminal incidents affecting the community.
The latest incident occurred on Friday morning, when four tyres were allegedly forcefully removed and stolen from a vehicle parked at Bau Landing.
Komaitai claims this follows several thefts reported in January, including the loss of a fibreglass boat, a 40-horsepower engine and three engine fuel tanks. A separate vehicle was also reportedly broken into during the same month.
He further stated that just last week, individuals attempted to steal tyres from his vehicle at the same location but were unsuccessful.
Komaitai claims the area has experienced years of car thefts, boat thefts and damage to personal property.
The concerns extend beyond Bau Landing, with residents from nearby villages — Namuka, Nakoroivau, Viwa and members of the CATD community — also reportedly affected.
In his post, Komaitai called on the Government and law enforcement authorities to establish a police post at Bau Landing, also known as Nadave Jetty, saying repeated requests over the years have not been addressed.
Residents say the situation has reached a breaking point and are urging immediate action to improve security in the area.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Commander East has confirmed that a working group has been established which includes the Mata ni Tikina of Bau to address the ongoing issue.
Police say the group is also considering the establishment of a Water Police Base rather than focusing solely on a police post, given concerns relating to border security.
They say possible sites have been earmarked, while mobile police patrols are ongoing and there are plans to introduce CCTV capabilities in the area.
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