By: NyimaSillah
Police have been urged to beef up security at the Serrekunda market as vendors complained of rising shoplifting and stealing during ‘wanterr’ (auction sales) as Koriteh (Eid il Fitr) celebration is fast approaching.
The vendors call comes after two women in ‘abaya’ dresses were arrested for allegedly shoplifting at a clothing shop at the Serrekunda market after CCTV caught the pair recently.
“We need security interventions as not all of us are fortunate to have CCTV in our shops. Last ten days of Ramadan are always busy times in the market when shops get crowded with limited controls from the vendors as everybody seem to be customer,” Malang Jabbi, clothes seller told The Voice exclusively.
According to MrJabbi, such incidents have been happening in the market for years but urged his colleagues to all have a CCTV camera in their shops and workplaces for security reasons.
“Most of these people join the crowd to get inside when vendors are busy calculating which leads to so many thieves, but if there is an invention of the security officers all the market at least that will help vendors in controlling their materials,” he said.
Modou Sarr, also a shop owner urged people to be vigilant and “report cases of suspects” to the police for further action
“Last year I hired two men to assist me on my business still the shops were not under full control because sometimes the situation gets so tight that we cannot identify the real costumers. I therefore beg security for quick intervention and help us safe our businesses,” he said.
Meanwhile, Aminata Dibassey said that they can be their own watch men but in situations like this they badly need security personnel to assist them do the work because it is hard to detect some thieves.