Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho last night warned criminals: “We will get to you.”

At the same time, the Police Commissioner reassured the public not to panic. He appealed for assistance from the public in keeping our communities safe.

Brigadier-General Qiliho, who has just returned from a conference in South Korea, was responding to the recent spate of robberies and concerns expressed by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Mr Bainimarama said  outside Parliament yesterday: “Certainly, it’s a worry. I will be talking to the Police Commissioner. I need to talk to him about the crime reported in the papers in the last few days. It is a serious concern.”

Brigadier-General Qiliho said the public and Police must work hand in hand. Police rely on information by the public to track down criminals. Secondly, he said, Police would be advising people on how to keep their homes safe by taking necessary precautions.

“We need to be proactive,” he said.

He said criminals had changed their modus operand. Criminals were now moving from robbing service stations to targeting individuals in residential neighbourhoods. Those from the Southern  Division would move to the West to commit crimes, he said.

The latest criminal activities included the:

Carjacking of a family vehicle in Kashmir, Lautoka

Terrorising of a family in Vatuwaqa by a figutive, who with others, had earlier stolen a car in a robbery, Police said.

Home invasions from the Coral Coast to Ba

Break-in at a Hindu temple in Waila, Nausori,           the ninth break-in in six months.

The Shree Satya Sanatan Dharam Ramayan Mandali committee members are angry over what theydescribe as “multiple acts of sacrilege.”

The mandir or temple, which previously was unsecured, now has a padlock with chain.

Temple trustee Ajay Prakash said because of the mounting cost of repairs, committee members had put a notice outside the temple that “if anyone wants to rob the temple, do not break in but just get the keys from the president to enter the temple.”

He said: “The committee members even posted that notice on social media.

“We are really concerned about the robberies,” he said.

“We are now looking for someone who can look after our temple. We will build a house for the person near the temple to look after our temple. If anyone is interested please contact us.

“We have reported the matter to the Nausori Police Station but no one has been arrested yet.

“Temple should be open for people to come and pray but we are now resorting to putting up a chain and padlock to protect the temple.

“The robbers break the ceiling, roof and windows and walls to gain entry to the temple during break-ins.

“We request the Fijian Government and the Fiji Police Force to act on the issue.

“About $3000 worth of items were stolen from the temple in past six months,” he said.

Edited by Maraia Vula

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