YUGOSLAVIA: KOSOVO: PRISTINA: LOOTING - LATEST

(25 Jun 1999) English/Nat NATO troops have been trying to curb a wave of looting in the Kosovar capital Pristina. Canadian K-FOR troops have arrested nine suspected looters during an operation to safeguard property in the city's commercial centre. Looters in Pristina have become so bold they appear unconcerned by the presence of hundreds of troops on the streets of the city. When Canadian K-FOR troops arrived at this sweet shop the looters inside carried on filling their pockets until they were ordered to leave. With so many people flouting the law, there's little the peacekeepers can do to prevent thieving. Most of the looters were sent on their way with little more than a reprimand. But stealing sweets is one thing, carrying concealed weapons another. This youth had a dagger stuffed down his trousers. He and another man were placed under arrest and led away. A crowd gathered to watch the foreign soldiers attempting to restore order. One man said he though many people were driven to looting through desperation. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I think this is big shame. We are all not like this, I guess, but people are in panic right now. They have lost everything. They try to steal something the way to take it home - or maybe I'm wrong, I don't know what's the matter with them but it's happening so much lately but we don't support them." SUPER CAPTION: Valton Bilalli, ethnic Albanian During the NATO aerial bombardment, refugees fleeing the province accused Serbs of looting ethnic Albanian-owned homes and businesses. Now, ethnic Albanians are seeking revenge. These men had loaded two sofas and a cupboard from a nearby Serb-owned furniture store onto a tractor. K-FOR troops searched them and later took them away to army headquarters. But with Kosovo's justice system in a state of collapse and far worse crimes having been committed with impunity it's unlikely to be long before men like these are back on the streets. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/3367b9f3d9723cf1acfb0715d976937b

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