Nine arrests in a matter of days, as Police hunt suspects in the recent spate of crimes.

That’s one of the quickest turnaround times in Police investigations of this nature.

Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, monitoring the operation, said yesterday there would be no let-up until the rest of the suspects were apprehended.

Police stepped up their operation when Brigadier-General Qiliho returned last week from South Korea and immediately visited recent crime areas and their Police stations.

Of the arrests so far:

n Five are linked to the carjacking of a family vehicle at Kashmir, Lautoka, the previous week. Brigadier-General Qiliho said they were confident of catching the remaining three suspects.

n One is linked to a robbery of a taxi driver in another attempted carjacking incident last Thursday. This time it was at Tikaram Place, Namadi Heights, Tamavua.

n Three are associated with the burglary of a Vodafone Fiji shop in Nadi on Thursday.

The Commissioner reassured the public yesterday; he thanked the public for helping the Police catch the nine suspects. He looked forward to the public-Police partnership continuing.

Brigadier-General Qiliho recognised the importance of the public and Police working together.

“If there are new faces in the area, or any other minor activities that you might think are negligible let us know because in the end it piles up and becomes a big thing. The thing is, people need to work together in neighbourhoods,” he said.

“That’s what we are revisiting, looking at neighbourhood watch schemes  especially when it comes to people who are well off, they tend to be more individualistic, but that’s not the way.

“If they can afford it, they must invest in security things like security cameras or having pet dogs as warning systems and whilst doing so, they must be

aware too that criminals have ways of countering it. The important thing here is that people should work together.”

He said the “quick thinking of the public in using their smartphones to video criminal activities that are happening, helps us with getting to the suspects and gathering evidence in regards to some of the actions that have been done.”

Meanwhile, Operation Cavuraka had also arrested 10 people suspected of cultivating marijuana in Kadavu.

“We thank the media as well for highlighting the issues of the criminal activities that have been happening and also assisting us in getting information on people that are wanted in regards to the criminal acts that have been committed,” Brigadier-General Qiliho said.

“Everybody plays a part and I must thank the media for their assistance and members of the public who have come forward to assist us. It shows that the public are keen to assist us.”

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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