Theft and robbery have declined in some villages in Ye Township, Mon State, that are under the control of local revolutionary forces, according to residents.
Since the military coup, groups of drug users have reportedly carried out thefts in Ye Township, targeting farm produce and valuable household items. Residents said the military junta has failed to take action against these groups.
Although residents did not formally request assistance, revolutionary forces began making arrests and taking action, leading to a noticeable decline in such incidents since mid-2025, a local woman said.
“In the past, even before betel nuts were fully ripe, they would be stolen. Durian fruits would disappear before orchard owners even saw them. If you left dried betel nuts unattended, they would all be gone. Now the situation has improved a lot. It’s not that thieves are completely gone, but there are fewer,” she said.
Mon revolutionary forces and allied groups have gained control over large parts of Ye Township and the Mon-Karen border areas since the coup, and have been handling local security matters.
According to the resident, those caught committing theft are punished by being expelled from their villages by local revolutionary forces.
“They are told not to return to the village as long as the group is present. They can go wherever they want, but they are not allowed to stay in the village. Most of those arrested are said to have fled to Thailand. They were warned before, but they continued stealing, so action was taken,” she said.
Data compiled by IMNA shows that Ye Township experienced a peak in burglary and robbery cases in 2024, resulting in significant losses.
Residents also said that reporting theft to the military junta’s police has been ineffective, as cases are recorded but no follow-up investigations or arrests are carried out, citing security reasons.
While theft has decreased due to the actions of revolutionary forces, residents said the problem has not been completely resolved and called for continued enforcement.
