Traders in Tala, Matungulu Sub-County, have been urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons in a bid to curb crime in the area.
Speaking in Tala Town on Monday, Matungulu OCPD Joseph Chesire said criminals hide in business premises and recreation centres pretending to be customers, and later rob residents.
Chesire challenged bar, restaurants and pool table owners to be report people found idling in their premises, as most criminals hide in such premises.
“Business owners should come together and form a security committee that will work with the police in curbing crime in this area,” said Chesire.
The OCPD also asked lodging owners not to admit customers who do not possess national identity cards or passports.
“A number of hotels do not check their customers' identification cards and instead only write ‘customers’ on the receipt, making it very difficult to arrest criminals when they commit crime,” he said.
Chesire urged the residents to work closely with Nyumba kumi officials in a bid to enhance security.
He also advised residents to avoid carrying expensive items like laptops at night to prevent them from being magged.