Lack of security | Rate of robberies and thefts escalate in regime-held areas

Recently, the rate of thefts and drug dealing has escalated significantly in light of the ongoing security chaos, causing the formation of several gangs and criminal networks.

The robberies were not done only by men, where women started committing robberies in regime-held areas.

In Tartous province, local authorities arrested a family comprising five women who all commit robberies, where the gang robbed nearly seven houses in Al-Fakasa, Al-Sijn and Al-Ajamy neighbourhoods after monitoring the houses to make sure they are left empty by their owners and entering them through windows. The gang stole gold jewelry, money, domestic gas cylinders and electric devices.

In Damascus province, local authorities arrested members of an armed gang comprising six people in Al-Maza Al-Gharby that commit robberies, where they stole batteries from cars and stole cellular phones from the passengers.

In Aleppo province, a gang comprising five people robbed houses on the road between Al-Kasr and Al-Khalaa in neighbourhoods of Aleppo province, and stole house furniture and contents inside these houses, where the local authorities arrested the members of the gang.

In Lattakia, networks promoting foreign currencies were arrested, in addition to the widespread of weed and its promoters among the people in the region.