HUYE - Residents of Agahenerezo village, Rukira cell in Huye district have blamed local authorities for failing to respond to the rising cases of burglary and other petty crimes in Huye sector. According to the residents, the increasing cases of crime threaten their overall security.

Last week, four cases of robbery were reported in the village - one on Thursday night and two others on Friday - in which unidentified gangs stole money, goods and household wares from a shop. 

Residents told The New Times that last Sunday night; burglars broke into the house of one resident and carried off assorted household items.

By press time, however, security sources said they had managed to arrest two suspects in connection with last Friday’s incident.

Residents who spoke to The New Times blamed grassroots leaders for failing to organise night patrols and community policing measures to check the rising crime rate.

"Burglars take advantage of the ineffective night patrols to pounce on innocent citizens. My neighbours and I have been victims of this growing lapse in vigilance and I think it will not stop until authorities take serious measures against it,” said Chantal Umurungi, the victim of Sunday night robbery.

Many of the local residents suspect the numerous unemployed youth of the area to be behind these incidences.

"To get to the root of the matter, I believe that we have to closely monitor the activities of the seemingly sizeable number of idlers within the society,” said Lydia Nshimiyimana, another theft victim said.

Officials from Huye sector acknowledged that a number of theft cases had been reported, but added they were working on finding a lasting solution to the problem.

"We are tightening the supervision of night patrols and we have concluded that anyone who will not respect such a directive will face the full wrath of the law,” said Faustin Bizimana, a local officer in-charge of land and infrastructure in Huye sector.

"We have also established a list of unemployed youth who will be among the first to acquire jobs in the upcoming activities under Vision 2020 Umurenge,” he added.

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