Economic deterioration and the consequent rise in unemployment in Burma have resulted in a sharp rise in thefts and petty burglaries in many places. This is true of Kalemyo as well.

“There are lots of thieves and robbers everywhere in Kalemyo area. We need to be careful about strangers as anyone can be a thief given the economic hardships people are facing. Some people are hungry and they want to have everything without paying for it,” a local said.

According to a source most times the authorities ignore incidents of thefts and violence laced with it, despite people lodging complaints.

“Recently, there was a robbery on the main road in Kalemyo. Two bicycle borne robbers snatched a gold necklace from an old woman. There have been instances, when some families have had their valuables stolen, while they had gone somewhere and left the house empty without a housekeeper,” he added.

A daily worker can earn Kyat 1200 to 3000 only a day. It is inadequate given the market price of essential and other commodities. So some youths, who do not have morals,  are going wild and hungry and are desperate to make money even if its means robbing people.