Burglars steal freely in police barracks

Alausa Police Barracks

Burglars broke into an apartment located in Alausa Police Barracks, Lagos State, carting away valuables such as jewellery, telephones and money.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the crime took place penultimate Sunday at Alhaja Toheebat Dosunmu’s residence at officers’ block, flat six. The burglers went away without being apprehended.

It was learnt that the burglary was one of many that had taken place in the barracks in recent times.

Our correspondent, who visited the house (Dosumus) on Sunday, learnt that the robbers broke into the apartment around 3am.

An occupant of the house, that preferred anonymity, said, “Around 3am on February 9, 2012, I heard a noise at the backdoor but there was power outage at the time so I quickly turned on the generator and went to see what was going on but I didn’t see anything.

“When it was daybreak, I heard Alhaja complaining that she could not find her things. We went back to the backdoor and noticed that it had been broken and the net was torn. The thieves made away with three phones, gold, money and other valuables before fleeing.”

It was learnt that such burglaries had become common in the area as many other residents had been victims in recent times.

An occupant of another flat told our correspondent that the last time the thieves attacked his block, they stole three laptops, phones and money, adding that the matter had been reported at the Alausa Police division.

Some residents told our correspondent that security was lax in the barracks which had given miscreants leeway to operate.

A resident, who identified herself simply as Shekinat, said a few months ago, burglars attacked about four apartments in different blocks in the barracks.

She said despite the fact that a police division was situated in the barracks, criminals usually operated unhindered.

She said, “Every Tom, Dick and Harry has access to this place. The policemen only secure their station, leaving us at the mercy of these hoodlums.

“Some months ago, at least five families were robbed and as I speak to you no one has been arrested. If this can happen in a police barracks, then it means Lagosians leaving in other parts of the state are not safe.”

When contacted on the telephone, the deputy police public relations officer, Damascus Ozoanni, said he had not been briefed on the incidents.

PUNCH