The past week has been marked with a string of robberies targeting residents of Serb-majority villages all over Kosovo. In majority of cases, livestock were stolen, but break-ins and car theft have also been reported. Residents of five Serb-majority areas have been targeted in eight cases of robbery over the past week: Plemetina, Novo Brdo, Kamenica, Partes and Babin Most.
Livestock stolen in Plemetina from family dependent on dairy sale
On 16th September a cow and a calf were stolen from the Radosavljevic family from Plemetina near Obilic. The family said that their livelihood depended on the livestock as they made an income by selling milk and dairy products.
“We are scared. My family lived off that cow, we sold cheese and milk. My children are unemployed and one of them has a baby. It is going to be even more difficult for us.”
Residents of Novo Brdo under constant threat of robberies
A day after the robbery in Plemetina, the Arsic family from Novo Brdo were the victim of another robbery. They too reported that the robbers took two cows.
From the beginning of this year, the residents of Novo Brdo reported a total of six cases of livestock theft, the perpetrators have not been identified in any of the reported thefts.
This drove the residents of the Novo Brdo village of Bostane – Albanians, Serbs and Roma – to protest.
“Given that the Kosovo Police are not able to help us, we seek the help of the international community in resolving our biggest problems, they did promise this when they came to Kosovo, they promised – safety and security of the citizens. We will not leave our homes and if no one can help us, we will organize among ourselves and offer help and support to each other so that we may prevail” said Tamara Arsic, whose family was the victim of the latest robbery in Novo Brdo at the protest.
A priest from Bostane, Stevo Mitric added that all residents of Novo Brdo, Serbs, Albanians and Roma are under threat because of these robberies and suggested that the police station in Novo Brdo become a category B station, thus allowing for an increase in the number of patrolling officers.
Not even Enver Lapashtica who lives in the proximity of the police station can be sure of the safety of his property. He was robbed of two cows four months ago.
“If they failed to protect me, and I live in the vicinity of the police station, what can the other residents expect?” said Lapashtica.
Commander of the police station in Novo Brdo, Aliu stated that the frequency of robberies increased in the area of Novo Brdo which he dubbed one of the poorest municipalities in Kosovo. He stated that a variety of items are targeted by thieves in this area – livestock, cars, trucks and agricultural machines. Illegal woodcutting is also a common crime in this area. Aliu asked for more patrolmen and more vehicles to cover the 240 km2 territory of the municipality.
Serb families in Kamenica targeted too
In the night between Wednesday and Thursday last week, the village of Bosce in Kamenica was targeted. The families Stojanovic and Stojkovic each had one cow stolen whereas another family managed to prevent the robbery of their livestock with the help of their neighbors.
The Stojanovic family, which includes eight family members, all depend on the two cows they possessed.
The Stojkovic family are internally displaced, there are three members in their family living in extreme poverty while Ms. Stojkovic is ill.
Diversified robberies in Partes
The week was disturbing for the residents of Partes as well where a series of robberies took place on Friday. The thieves stole a car, tools, a hunting rifle, several herds of livestock, two purebred hunting dogs and even gasoline from a tractor. Three different families were targeted.
Residents of this part of Pomoravlje resonate the worries of other residents of Serb-majority villages all over Kosovo, stating that they feel as no one can protect them from the frequent robberies.
The residents of Partes claim that around 30 herds of livestock have been stolen in Partes since 1999. However, the livestock was not the only target, the robbers also stole cars and broke into the houses of the people who are living and working abroad.
Break-ins in Babin Most
In Babin Most, the Vuckovic family was robbed this Sunday. The perpetrators broke into their family home and stole €2,000 and family jewellery while making considerable material damage in the process.
Another break-in was reported in Babin Most a month ago. The victims of the break-in were the Bojovic family, neighbours of the Vuckovic family.
The Orthodox church in Babin Most has been robbed four times in the past 15 years, the most recent robbery happened in July when 90,000 dinars was stolen from the church.
The Police have not identified the perpetrators of any of the listed crimes.
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