The Point published a story in which traders and vendors at the Coastal Road Garage and its environs bitterly complained about frequent pick-pocketing, stealing and robberies in the area, with many pointing fingers at jobless boys at the garage.
However, many traders at the area have now said the aforementioned criminal activities have been reduced due to regular security patrols in the area.
Speaking to The Point exclusively on Thursday, a restaurant owner at the Coastal Road Garage who previously bitterly complained about the alleged theft cases at the garage, said such crimes have now been minimised owing to regular patrol of security agents such as the Paramilitary and the Anti- Crime Unit of The Gambia Police Force.
“Previously the boys often stayed beside my restaurant and pretended to be apprentices of commercial vehicles but only to steal my belongings. However, the situation has changed now because the security agents often chase them away,” she said.
She added: “If the security agents continue the regular patrol, crimes will be much minimised in the area and it would help us to do our business safely.”
The restaurant owner was impressed with government for deploying security agents in the area, while commending all security top officials for ensuring a peaceful environment at Coastal Road area.
Meanwhile, she urged the police high command to continue the good work.
A coffee vendor, who previously told this medium that he had witnessed two robbery cases at Coastal Road Garage around dawn prayers, said nowadays there are immense positive changes at Coastal Road area. He justified that he had not heard people complaining about theft or robbery cases in the area now.
“In fact, yesterday, I met two pickups full of security personnel patrolling this territory. This has definitely minimised the frequent criminal activities in this place,” he told this medium, while selling coffee.
The coffee vendor expressed happiness with the Gambia Police Force under the leadership of the IGP for regular deployment of security agents in the area. However, he urged the IGP to never relent in the struggle to ensure sustainable security presence in the zone.
Another shopkeeper who also spoke to this reporter in the previous publication said: “We are now happy with the situation because the boys have been controlled by the security agents.”
“A patrol team often comes here almost daily and the Station Officer of Yundum Police Station has also been coming to chase the jobless boys around the garage.”
However, he joined fellow traders in calling on government to continue deploying security officers in the area to ensure sustainable security and peace. This, he said, would help them to sell their merchandise in a serene environment.
