Residents of Kaptembwa and its environs have been criticised for rushing to the media to report crime cases instead of turning to the police for help.
Area deputy police boss Janet Wasike on Sunday lamented that the move was putting into jeopardy their effectiveness in fighting crime in the area.
While reacting to reports that residents were attacked and robbed of properties on the eve of New year by a criminal gang, Wasike stated that no resident had reported the incident to them and that she only came to know of it after a journalist sought to verify the allegations.
She challenged residents to be free with police officers to stem such incidences saying that much as highlighting the cases to the press was spot on it was supposed to come second to the police to avoid giving criminals undue advantage to escape justice.