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Crime on the rise; almost a livelihood
View(s):Political patronage of criminals, political interference in investigations alienate the public from the police
By Damtih Wickremasekara
Last Monday, as usual, the two female cashiers at Lanka Electricity Company’s (LECO) Nugegoda office were on duty. Consumers turning up to pay their bills were more than the usual number, due to the just ended National New Year holidays. Shortly after noon, the cashiers were preparing to transfer part of the collection to the safe on the upper floor. Just then, two men posing off as customers calling over to pay their bills, turned up.
The cashiers’ cubicle where the daylight robbery took place. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe
They entered the cashiers’ cubicle and, at gunpoint, demanded the day’s collection. The two young cashiers obliged. Three drawers were cleared of their contents, while a fourth drawer could not be opened as the key was not available. The rest of some 40 staff members were unaware of the happenings in the two cubicles and the ordeal facing the two cashiers. The two men walked out of the building without raising any suspicion.
However, soon after the robbers left, the two cashiers raised cries, which alerted the security who noted the registration number of the robbers’ getaway motorcycle. The two men had got away with Rs. one million in cash and Rs 500,000 in cheques. Nugegoda Branch LECO Manager G.P. Seneviratne told the Sunday Times said that, though alarms had been installed in several locations, the employees had not been able to sound them as the two robbers had acted swiftly.
“It was a well organised robbery, as the robbers were confident that they could get away without being detected, though it took place in close proximity to the police station,” he said. He said that the robbers seemed to know the time the collection is transferred to the safe. Mr Senevirate said they hope to install CCTV cameras and change locks as a security precaution.
“Consumers should use other payment methods such as in supermarkets, use of credit cards and through the internet to prevent such robberies.”According to Kohuwela Police OIC, IP Chaminda Edirisuriya, the motorcycle number obtained indicated that its ownership had changed several times and was helpful in this probe.
He said they have been able to identify suspects who assisted in the robbery and expected an early breakthrough. Last week, a liquor shop owner in the Matale area, had brought home the pre New Year season collection of Rs 4.2 million. Four men – one of them armed with a pistol, broke into his house and got away with the money.
Three days later, four suspects were arrested and the van used for the crime seized. The ‘pistol’ was found to be a toy gun, while Rs 4.1 million has been recovered. The lack of security precautions has been has been one of the main reasons which enables robbers to stage heists with relative ease.
Last month, serious lapses in security at a Pawning Centre situated by the Colombo-Kandy main road in Kiribathgoda, Kelaniya, enabled robbers to get away with gold jewellery and cash at 8 a.m. “The shop was sans a CCTV camera, while the alarm system was fixed a few shops away, thereby delaying an immediate response from the police,”said Kiribathgoda Police OIC, IP S. Priyantha.
“The two female employees at the pawning centre had opened the shop with all the keys of the safes in their hands. Usually, they first enter the shop, while the keys of the safes are brought to them later,” the IP said.
The two men armed with knives, had waited until the shop was opened and entered the premises. They had pushed the two females into a vacant room and locked them, before robbing the place. IP Priyantha said that the pawning centre had set up an alarm that goes off in a nearby shop, who in turn inform the police. “Ideally, such places should have alarms which go off directly at the police,” he added.
Retired DIG Nimal Mediwaka said that, earlier, the Community-Police relationship was good and effective which helped prevent such incidents.
He said the police need to act in an organised manner to control criminal activities. Criminal lawyer Neville Ananda said that, after the end of the ‘war’, armed forces deserters with knowledge in handling weapons have not been integrated into mainstream society. “As a result, they don’t consider armed robberies a serious issue,” he added.
The beautiful mantlepiece clock
He said that police failure to conduct proper investigations, has resulted in the ad hoc release of suspects. “This encourages criminals to return to crime,” he added. Mr. Ananda pointed out that due to political influence too, criminal investigations could not be conducted as witnesses shied away from giving evidence for fear of reprisal.
“There are allegations that information given by witnesses reach the perpetrators of the crime through the police. This too is a problem in containing crime,” he added. Police DIG- Crimes, Ravi Wijegunawardena told the Sunday Times that among the measures taken by the police to reduce crime, has been to expedite investigations and file charges as soon as possible.
He said the police had increased patrols and taken steps to create awareness among the public about easy access to inform the police about criminal activities. DIG Wijegunawardena said that steps have also been taken to strengthen community-police relationship to get the public’s support to contain crime.
Tick, tock, tick tock: Ronnie’s clock ticks on
Our Kalutara Correspondent Ratnasiri Premalal
Another robbery that made headlines this week was the recovery of a valuable old clock belonging to former Finance Mnister Ronnie de Mel, from a scrap metal shop. Six suspects, including the owner of the scrap metal shop in Thebuwana were arrested over the robbery of the intricately worked mantelpiece clock worth Rs. six million and a six-foot tall chimney lamp from Mr. De Mel’s ancestral home, Geekiyana kanda estate bungalow in Kalutara.
Kalutara police said the suspects between the ages of 16-25 had sold the clock for a mere Rs. 6000 and the chimney lamp for Rs. 8000.
The 300-year-old clock had been gifted to Mr. de Mel by the British Royal Family in 1962. The robbery took place during the avurudu season when the watcher at the locked up bungalow had gone home.
Two of the under-aged suspects were handed over to their parents after a stern warning while the others were ordered to appear in court on May 6.
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