KIOSKS and convenience stores have become easy targets for ever more brazen bandits, and criminals are increasingly willing to hurt and maim for a fistful of euros.
“Wannabe robbers are becoming more dangerous, carrying guns and putting employees’ lives at risk…in some cases just to steal €20 or €30. So far in 2009, we’ve had a robbery almost every other day,” said DISY deputy Ionas Nicolaou.
He was speaking after meeting with owners of 24-hour convenience stores in Nicosia yesterday. Shopkeepers, concerned for their own safety and that of their employees, say they have become easy prey for criminals.
Recent months have seen a dramatic rise in thefts, robberies and burglaries. Eleven armed robberies have taken place at banks and co-operatives so far this year, compared to one last year and three in 2007 for the same time period.
Last week alone, three armed robberies happened in Limassol within the space of 24 hours. In two of the incidents the culprits were armed, and in the other an elderly kiosk employee was stabbed after an unsuccessful attempt at a citizen’s arrest.
“In the first months of this year, we have had a robbery almost every other day,” Nicolaou said.
“No doubt this phenomenon is not unrelated to the economic crisis,” he added. Other factors are increasing drug abuse and the growing numbers of illegal immigrants.
Stopping short of calling the police clueless, Nicolaou called for a “systematic study” into the phenomenon.
Authorities needed to get more involved with prevention and not just chase the robbers after the fact. Police should also get together with shop owners and give them some basic tips on how to deal with thieves, said Nicolaou, who went on to give the answer himself:
“For example, shopkeepers should install alarm systems, CCTV cameras, have ample lighting. And they should try to delay the robbers.”
Police also needed to cut their response time to theft calls.
“We don’t want to take matters into our own hands. In fact, we discourage our members from such actions,” said Andreas Theodoulou, head of the association of 24-hour convenience stores.
“We would like to have better cooperation, better coordination with police, on a professional basis,” he added.
Earlier this week, police announced sweeping measures in the face of a dramatic spike in robberies.
Official statistics show that during the first quarter of last year there were 13 robberies, compared to 31 in the same period this year.
This was despite a decrease in the overall crime rate, which had dropped 15.7 per cent over the last year.
Some of the actions mulled by authorities include a visible, 24-hour police presence in the cities and urban areas, greater personal contact with all co-ops, banks and kiosks, and the setting up of temporary roadblocks without warning.
