Dear Editor,

While the police statistics say robberies are on the decrease, on the ground experience indicates that they have reached crisis level. The police seem not to be recording them, hence they can claim decrease?

I say this without fear of contradiction as, over two months ago, my neighbour was ambushed at his gate, tied up, and the house ransacked. Up to now the Half Way Tree police has not turned up to take a statement or do any form of investigation, so which statistics would this robbery appear in?

Then, on Saturday at noon a visitor to my home was held up in my yard by two young men using the same similar modus operandi as with my neighbour. And since then, speaking to friends, I have now heard that at least six people I know have had a similar experience in broad daylight at the hands of gunmen using the same technique, rushing the victims as they go through their gate — even an electronic gate in one instance — and forcing them to open their homes so they can take what they want.

Further, too regularly for comfort, I am hearing from teenagers how men in the area, ride up on bicycles and rob them at knife-point of their smartphones as they walk on the streets. Robberies going down? The only thing that is going down is the credibility of the police. Why is there seemingly not the same interest given to all robberies as that extended to the minister of national security. Despite the statistics, we are in the midst of this new crime wave?

Joan E Williams

Kingston 10

gratestj@gmail.com