Fatal Sliema mugging: Elderly residents express their fear
The recent muggings in Sliema – where Rose Garroni, 80, was left for dead on the street clutching the handle of her stolen handbag – have left the elderly feeling vulnerable and scared. Nikki Abela Mercieca went to Dingli Street to hear residents’ concerns.
Virginia Camilleri, 85
I feel less safe when I’m walking alone after what happened. In fact, I try to hide my purse when I’m walking. As you can see, I’ve put it in the bag with the meat. It’s worrying almost to walk around. At home, I feel better because there will be my husband with me. Even though he’s not really a bully, it helps.
Michael Briffa, 84
I knew Rose a bit, not much but I had spoken to her several times. To be honest, at night I take a walking stick with me, not only to be stable but to feel safer and to have something to defend myself with in case of an attack.
Anna Zammit Tabona, 62
People are scared to go out now after what happened. In fact, today I didn’t bring my handbag with me on purpose. It’s strange even when you open the door at night you see a lot of men, not women. Women, in fact, don’t feel safe and rightly so.
It was sad what happened to Rose, really. I didn’t know her personally but everybody praised her for being a good woman.
David Cassar Parnis, 64
I don’t feel very safe after all these muggings. You have to be careful really. Recent events haven’t changed my routine much, however, as we haven’t reached that age yet and my wife always keeps the front door closed.
We knew Rose and, for her age, she was very independent. It didn’t show she was 80. It’s a pity because she wasn’t sick in bed and she had to die that way.
Agnes Delia, 71
I live round the corner from the lady. She used to say the rosary with me after Mass at St Patrick’s and she was so lovely. It was very sad the way she went. I don’t feel less safe after what happened to Rose. I mean the same thing happened to me twice, so I always take precautions. For example, I don’t carry a handbag anymore and I keep everything in a plastic bag.
Once a foreigner snatched my bag and ran away. I quickly went into a nearby pharmacy and started crying and a kind customer chased the thief and caught him.
Another time I was walking in front of the Ursuline Sister’s Creche at 8 p.m. when an old Ford Escort turned around the corner at speed and the passenger tried to snatch my bag from the car. But I held on to it; I think I was lucky that day.
Now, after what happened to Rose, my children keep preaching to me not to go out with a handbag. In fact, I just met one of my girls who told me to keep my purse hidden under my jacket.
Maria Arcidiacono, 70
I knew Rose and will always remember that she used to do a lot of good, even for the missionaries. I remember once she had persuaded me to keep bottle-tops for a charity.
After what happened I’ve changed my routine and I try to avoid going out at night. Even so I sometimes feel unsafe in my flat because I worry that people may have left the common door open.
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19 Comments
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Mario Fonk
Dec 23rd 2010, 00:48
I hope the scumbag is caught and left to rot in jail. Thankfully this sort of crime is relatively rare in Malta
john muscat
Dec 22nd 2010, 15:48
how about backing all maltese elderly from allover malta and gozo. muggings have become so common nowadays. It is a great pitty that this sweet old woman had to go like this. this goes for many others like her from other localities, let us not forget !!
joe vella
Dec 22nd 2010, 15:35
remember all the promises that we will be safer in our homes, a good pair of hands will make sure that we will all be living in paradise
remember gonzi PN,
where is all the hot air now?
do you feel safe?
Pamela Hansen
Dec 22nd 2010, 13:40
Not very clever to reveal that the elderly now carry their money in plastic bags with their shopping or on their person.
A Galea
Dec 22nd 2010, 13:06
I back all the Sliema residents
K.Grech
Dec 22nd 2010, 13:01
at M.Muscat
U int kif taf li hemm Pulizija bizejjed. Kun af li fl- Ghassa jkun hemm wiehed jirrispondi telephone, surgent u xufier li jmorru fuq kull ma jigri. Gieli jkun hemm wiehed jew tnejn Pulizija li jkunu patrol. Imma issa inti tista tispjegali kif wiehed jew tnejn Pulizija jistghu jduru Sliema kollha...
D Curmi
Dec 22nd 2010, 12:40
miskina..
Michael Seychell
Dec 22nd 2010, 12:20
Journalist Niki Abela Merciea should have economised on the information he gave regarding purses, plastic bags, and shopping.
It is true that those who go so low to mug senior citizen to rob them, will in all probability not read the Times, however there could be such as young ones and or foreigners who read daily papers.
I want to clarify that by foreigners these could include Africans, Asian s,Europeans etc., but t excluding most , if not all, expatriates and tourists.
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
Joseph Borg
Dec 22nd 2010, 12:10
Dear Sliema elderly residents,
Is not just you that live in fear, it's a national problem. All elderly people are easy targets.
D.Dalli
Dec 22nd 2010, 11:51
Dr. Fenech Adami used to tell us "F'Darek Bla Biza". DR. Gonzi, you have not lived up to Dr. EFA promise.
There are no policemen, undercover roaming notories snatch and grab or frequently robbed places like sliema, san gwann, paceville area. Senior citizens in my family living in San Gwann have been mugged twice outside their homes.
Is it maybe time that we get a young, energetic, polic commissoner with a can do approach. Policemen have become nothing but clerks lately. Why are such jobs not rotated often for fresh ideas and more energy where it counts.
J. Debono
Dec 22nd 2010, 11:51
These small robberies for petty cash are happening to pay for the high cost of addictive drugs.
Though help is available to those that seek for it, some drug abusers do not want help!
In my opinion, for those who do not want help, and want to take heroin/coke at whatever cost, the government should provide a cheap daily supply - albeit under very strict control.
Strict control means that:-
1. Only known abusers will be given the drug and not new users
2. Only the daily amount will be given
3. Only one point of supply (for ex. Detox)
However the advantage would be :-
1. Less overdosage as the dose given is controlled
2. Less infections as the drug given would be pure not cut with imperfections (like glucose powder/talcum etc)
3. These people need not resort to robberies to pay for their addiction - as the supply will be cheap.
I know I will get harshly critized for this comment, but if people think about the above points, there quite some advantages, esp. decrease in robberies which can lead to the death of an innocent person - as above.
Wenzu Vella
Dec 22nd 2010, 13:01
Your idea is not new but you are right to the point. The idea to register drug addicts has been discussed for many years by high ranking police officers and other medical people because the war on drugs has been lost a long time ago. The only way is to legalize drugs and make them available to those who are addicted because that is the only way to reduce home and business burglaries, and of-course the muggings of people, especially the most vulnerable the elderly.
The problem is the politicians they are the one’s who can change the laws, but these people are only interested in how many votes they would loose or gain in the next election.
G.Debono
Dec 22nd 2010, 14:02
Wenzu
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/govpubs/solom2.htm
J. Debono
Dec 22nd 2010, 19:27
@ G. Debono
I am not talking about decriminalizing of drugs! Far from it.
But supplying cheap, clean drugs to known addicts, instead of making them resort to robberies to pay for their addiction!
I do not agree with decriminalization, as it will be easier for NEW users, whilst in my statement I wrote clearly, that new users will not be supplied.
A. Mizzi
Dec 22nd 2010, 11:47
it's not only a problem for Sliema residents.
Spate of breaking in s have been going on at Zebbug residents for years , practically like clockwork and not one case apparently has been solved, or at least investigated.
The police apparently know who the culprts are but want the victims to point them out to them!
t. borg
Dec 22nd 2010, 11:46
l-anzjani taghna jridu jitghallmu igorru ftit flus fil-baskett u jekk jigu attakkati m'ghandhomx jissaraw lill-agressur minhabba ftit euros. kif ukoll izommu ftit flus id-dar.
EDWIN DE MARCO
Dec 22nd 2010, 11:35
In my opinion it's about time foot patrol be introduced. If there aren't enough policemen to man the streets there are also capable soldiers.
M Muscat
Dec 22nd 2010, 12:03
There are enough but they prefer to sit in police stations drinking coffee! They will only do something if someone reports and that is the first thing they say when they approach the person that the only reason why thwy went is because someone reported. We should consider foreign policemen/women for some discipline in this country.
ABORG
Dec 22nd 2010, 11:33
it is a shame and a pity that these elderly people have to live in fear:(
Please choose the reason of your report below: