By Siwar Hamo
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – In recent weeks, thefts have increased in the city of Afrin, northwestern Syria, where dozens of shops and civilians’ homes have been systematically targeted, without any action from the Turkish-backed Military Police.
Since 2018, the city of Afrin has been under the control of Turkey and its affiliated armed factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA).
Disregard
The thefts included mobile phone shops, grocery stores, and currency exchange offices, with the majority of thefts concentrated on Rajo Street in the city center of Afrin, according to local residents.
There have also been several cases of car thefts, as well as motorbikes, and despite the presence of surveillance cameras distributed along the street and its main and secondary entrances, neither the Civil nor Military Police have intervened to apprehend the thieves.
Local sources told North Press that the thefts took place near the office of the Turkish Wali (governor) in Afrin.
They added that according to surveillance cameras owned by shopkeepers, a group of masked individuals can be seen moving freely in the street, breaking store locks, with one person entering the shop while others remain outside monitoring the situation.
The sources also noted that the thefts typically occur between 4 and 5 AM, with the crimes being carried out quietly in the complete absence of police patrols.
Thefts reports
Although shop owners have filed reports with the police station since the first days of the thefts, nothing has been done. The police simply recorded the reports without taking any practical action or deploying patrols, despite the thefts occurring in specific, well-known areas, according to residents.
Walid, a mobile phone shop owner on Rajo Street, told North Press, “My shop was robbed at night, and when I came in the morning, I discovered that the door was broken. I counted the stolen mobile phones and some money, and I went to the Civil Police station in the Villas neighborhood to file a report.”
He added, “The officer told me that they would follow up on the matter. The next night, the thieves robbed my neighbor’s grocery store, and the police did not move, nor did they conduct any patrols, despite their complete negligence in protecting people’s livelihoods.”
Mustafa Abdo, who lives on the same street, said, “Two nights ago, around 5 AM, we heard strange movements in the street. I looked out the window and saw five masked people walking down the street, one of them carrying a rifle.”
He continued, “I watched them secretly, and after a few minutes, they broke the door of the building. One of them entered and took several batteries from the building’s entrance. Then, a small car arrived, and they loaded the batteries into it and left.”
He pointed out that these thefts are happening every day without stopping. “We cannot even intervene to stop them for fear of being targeted by the weapons they carry, and despite the pleas, no authority has moved to capture the thieves, who act without restraint.”
The areas controlled by SNA factions are witnessing a state of security breakdown and instability, marked by thefts, assassinations, killings, as well as bombings and kidnappings for ransom.