House break-ins: Police may turn to military for support

A joint police-military operation could be considered to tackle growing concerns over house break-ins, similar to the model used in the fight against drugs.

Minister for Policing and Communications Ioane Naivalurua said he had taken note of concerns that house break-ins were increasing and that some incidents were becoming regular.

“I take note of some concerns on how it is perceived as an increase in house break-in, and some of those incidents are becoming regular,” he said yesterday.

He said Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu was already reviewing the police concept of operations to suit the “changing times”.

Mr Naivalurua recalled that a joint operation with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces had worked well against drugs.

“There was a joint operation with the military, the army, and it has worked. Now we are able to manage that particular front,” he said.

He said house break-ins had “come up to light” and would now receive more attention, adding that the commissioner was best placed to detail how operations would adjust.

The Minister also had a stern message for offenders.

“It doesn’t pay to break the law. But the bottom line is that you cross the line, you get caught, you face the consequences of it,” he said.

Welcoming the growing use of home CCTV, he said footage was proving valuable as evidence and pointed to an ongoing Government project monitoring city roads.

Mr Naivalurua said he would field an oral question on the matter in Parliament today.

His comments come after Police confirmed the arrest of a suspect linked to a daylight burglary in Nasinu, with the search continuing for two others, while a Nausori burglary suspect remains in remand.