Member of the National Parliament, Antonio Verdial de Sousa, said that theft cases that continue to occur every day in the capital, Dili, are caused by a lack of employment opportunities.
“We can say that these theft cases are caused by a lack of employment opportunities. Therefore, when the government creates employment opportunities for citizens, theft cases can decrease because everyone will be occupied with work and economically sufficient, and people will not create organised groups to steal,” he said.
He said that theft cases involving both minors and adults are linked to financial problems that force some people to steal. He also stated that there are some organised groups led by adults who involve minors in carrying out theft and then give them money.
“We see that theft in Dili does not only involve phones, but also wallets, people’s money in bags, motorcycles and other valuable items,” MP Verdial said.
The MP said that, in relation to these incidents, the government must create policies to increase employment opportunities for citizens so that theft cases can be reduced.
“The police can take action in these situations, but we need to understand why people become thieves. We first need to find the motive, but of course, this is bad behaviour and the police must arrest them,” he said.
He said that theft has become a national problem and that one of its causes is economic hardship.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Caicoli Village, Vera Cruz Administrative Post, Dili Municipality, Hipolito Sarmento, said that it is true that some theft cases occur because of economic problems and a lack of employment opportunities, but there is also a lot of work that people can do to earn money.
“We cannot just wait for employment opportunities from the government, but we also need to create work and look for work ourselves. If we wait for the government for everything, everyone will become a thief,” he said.
He gave the example of children who sell boiled eggs and crackers on public roads, elderly people who carry goods from one neighbourhood to another, and some young women and men who sell phone credit and cigarettes to earn their own money instead of simply waiting for the government.He said that the problem is not only a question of a lack of employment opportunities, but also a lack of education and control within families. When parents abandon their children and allow them too much freedom, they can eventually become involved in theft.
