Crime on the Increase in Rangoon, Mandalay

By THE IRRAWADDY

Crime is on the increase in Rangoon and Mandalay, according to worried local residents. Although statistics aren’t made public by the police, three serious crimes were reported by the public since the start of this week.

Residents in Rangoon’s Tamwe Township told The Irrawaddy that a local woman, whom they named as Htay Htay was murdered by a man who robbed her home on Wednesday. The robber escaped.

Two armed robberies were reported on Monday at Yuzana Tower, Shwegoneting in Rangoon’s Bahah Township.

A gang armed with knives robbed the Myanmar Wood Mart company and later the same day a store in Yuzana Tower was also robbed. A quantity of foreign currency was reportedly taken from the timber company.

An increase in crime is also reported from Mandalay by the city’s independent press.

The apparent increase in crime has led to mounting criticism of the police, who are accused of doing too little to prevent robberies. “People can’t depend on the police,” said a civil servant who lives in Rangoon’s Thingangyun Township.