Monrovia – Business owners of the commercial hub of Waterside are alarming the constant burgling of their stores at night.
Report by Edwin G. Genoway, Jr., [email protected]
Some of the business owners told FrontPage Africa that there is no security for their investment although they all pay taxes to the government.
Between July and August this year, so far more than four stores have been reportedly burglarized at night by criminals, who made way with hundreds of thousands dollars’ worth of goods.
Some businesses that were reportedly burglarized by criminals are Kalinko Business Center, Samford and Sons Business and Liberia Fixer Limited among others.
Residents of the Waterside and Water Street communities told a FrontPage Africa reporter that unknown men normally go at night in vehicle to loot business centers.
“For us that living here, we are living in fear because when those guys come to loot and they notice anyone spying them, such person can be fired at because they carry arms,” Morris Yekeh, a resident of Waterside explained.
Some Lebanese nationals running their businesses have also been victimized by the criminals.
Lamin Faya Bassana owns the Rainbow Enterprise – importer of used clothes – has also been victimized.
Bassana said that his store was looted by some unknown men bearing arms.
“I was called by people living around here that there were people bursting my store, I immediately called the police 911 number for intervention but no one answer, the next day I came and met my store burst into with some of my goods stolen and US$2500 alone with L$150,000 taken away by them,” he explained.
Alli Kahsan, another Lebanese businessman who deals wholesale of dry goods also alarmed the insecurity of his investment.
“Our businesses are not protected and taxpayers payers, waterside is now risky at night,” he explained.
The latest victim of the criminals’ ransack is the Atlantic Used Clothing store on Water Street.
On August 14, 2018 at about 11PM, criminals hit the store, which is in close proximity to the Police depot.
According to eye witnesses, the criminals who were seen in the vehicle and carrying firearms came closed to breaking into the store.
Patrick Yamak, owner of the store, expressed fear about his investment. He recalled that his business was saved because neighbors alarmed.
“I am shock to see my place to be burst into when the police station is just next door to my store,” Yamak said, expressing disappointment in the level of security provided for private investments in Liberia.
“If this will be happening right before the eyes of the police, then it’s worrisome for us the business people,” he explained.
He however called on the Liberia National Police to augment its patrol at night in the Waterside community.
Patrick stressed that when security is assured businesses will be protect and corridors will be open for more foreign investments.
“If this continues our businesses, those from outside will be afraid to come and invest in Liberia, so, the police needs to do more to protect our businesses because we are tax payers,” he noted.