Residents of Mawlamyine in Mon State say they are increasingly concerned about their safety as crime continues to rise across the city.
Since the 2021 military coup, Mawlamyine has experienced a sharp increase in crimes including theft, robbery, fraud, murder, extortion and armed robbery. Residents say thefts are now reported almost every day.
On July 2, a motorcycle taxi driver was robbed of his motorcycle and killed on Viewpoint Road, one of the city’s well-known landmarks.
Residents said the road has become increasingly unsafe, with criminals frequently targeting motorists and people exercising along the route.
“Mawlamyine has become a city plagued by robberies, assaults, murders and gambling,” one resident said. “People no longer dare to walk alone on Taung Paw Tan Road. There is no effective security, and the crime situation is only getting worse.”
In another incident on July 23, CCTV footage reportedly captured a man, a woman and a child stealing a motorcycle belonging to an employee of Shwe La Min Hospital.
Residents said the deteriorating security situation reflects weak law enforcement and the authorities’ failure to effectively address crime.
“Reporting stolen property doesn’t make any difference,” another resident said. “People whose motorcycles were stolen filed reports with the police, but nothing happened. It feels like the police simply let the thieves go. In some cases, local residents have had to catch the suspects themselves and hand them over to the police.”
In addition to theft, robbery, violent assaults and fatal muggings, Mawlamyine has also seen a series of armed robbery cases in recent months.
Residents say the growing wave of crime has increased fear among the public and raised concerns about the city’s worsening security situation.
