Armed looting reported again in Debar

[Crvena zvezda]

This sort of thing has been going on in the border areas ever since the 1990's.

Looting and raiding villages was one of the main activities of the Shiptari back in the old days. The infamous "kachaci" bands......looks like they're back

In this case, it sounds like they're attacking each other

[FYROM is doing an inadequate job of border control and allowing Albanians to just raid FYROM villages with greater and greater frequency.]

Skopje /05/06/ 12:46

A group of gunmen with masks covering their faces broke into a private house in Debar last night and stole 5.400 euros and gold jewelry, Makfax correspondent said.

The police said the theft happened around 02:00 hrs in the house of Afrim Hame, at Ali Zengoski Street.

The thieves, armed with machine-guns, stormed into Hame's house and beat up his wife Ajshe and their child. Hame was not at home during the burglary.

Ajshe resisted the attack and managed to remove the mask of one of assailants, but later she was beaten up. The assailants also threatened to take the child unless she gives them money. Later on, she complied with their demands.

Police sources say that according to Ajshe's deposition, the assailants spoke in dialect typical of border villages in Albania. The assailant with his mask taken off his face is believed to be a citizen of Albania.

Upon a request by Debar police, representatives of interior ministries of FYROM and Albania will meet today to discuss the event.

The locals got outraged and urged the competent authorities to track down the perpetrators, as the woman can identify one of them.

Just few days ago, Debar City Council held extraordinary session to discuss security situation. The Council was displeased with security situation in this area and urged the authorities to authorize security upgrades. Some locals said they are likely to switch to self-defense to thwart security threats unless the looting is brought to a halt.

http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=70339&NrIssue=364&NrSection=1