A gunman involved in an armed robbery at a home market in Hlaingkani Village, Kyainseikgyi Township, Karen State, has been arrested, according to local reports.
On the evening of January 15, two armed individuals entered the home market owned by U Naing Tun and Mi Ma Phae in the eastern part of Hlaingkani Village. They brandished firearms and demanded gold and cash. When the homeowner called for help, the suspects fled, managing to steal only two mobile phones.
Following the incident, members of the New Mon State Party (Anti-Military Dictatorship), which operates in the area, launched a search operation. Within a few days, they apprehended one of the suspects.
“They continued using the stolen phones without removing the SIM cards. The homeowner tried calling one of the phones, and it was still active. After notifying local authorities again, the suspects were tracked down and arrested between Weakalun and Ingwa villages. The stolen phones were recovered,” a local source reported.
Of the two robbers, one—identified as ‘The Robot’ from Hneepadaw Village in Mudon Township—has been arrested, while the other remains at large. The New Mon State Party (Anti-Military Dictatorship) continues its investigation.
“So far, only one suspect has been captured, and the other is still on the run. Both are civilians with no known ties to armed groups. Because the incident took place in territory controlled by the New Mon State Party, many assumed the perpetrators were soldiers from our group. To clarify this, we presented the arrested suspect for identification,” a local source explained.
Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has seen a rise in crime, fueled by economic hardship, the breakdown of law and order, and increased access to weapons.
“Armed robberies have become more frequent since the coup, especially in areas under military junta control. However, in New Mon State Party (Anti-Military Dictatorship)-controlled areas, such crimes have been rare for years. This is the first such incident in a long time,” said a resident.
Hlaingkani Village falls under New Mon State Party (Anti-Military Dictatorship) jurisdiction, where security is typically strictly enforced. Despite this, the home invasion and robbery took place, raising concerns about crime in the region.
