I love living in Mauritius, where I chose to settle six years ago. This is a different experience from that of my native Kashmir. But I must confess something very upsetting in my opinion. The number of thefts is reaching an alarming level. My wife and I were ourselves recently afflicted by two subsequent ?visits? in the same week, which not only deprived us of our dearest valuables, comprising family jewels, but seriously undermined our confidence in the responsible authorities and placed us in a kind of feeling of permanent insecurity. I have heard that, in Flic-en-Flac only, there are more than 350 theft cases registered each year - approximately one daily.

What is unbelievable is that, in such a small country with so many police units, it should not be so difficult to trace the culprits . I do trust law, but I sometimes ask myself if the punishment against delinquents should not be strengthened. But what to expect from law and order when a policeman confessed he feared to lose his own van ?

At the same time, when I look both to some unoccupied buildings in Flic-en-Flac, that are sometimes in poor state, and to neglected bare lands, where suspects can hide, I wonder: is law sufficient? Crooks actually see it. They seem to use bare lands as bases from where to observe their ?prey?s? movements and to plan their doings.

Last time we were burgled, it happened at dinner time in a two-hour span! Fortunately some volunteers and social workers do their best to ensure a proper neighborhood watch. Meanwhile we do live with a sentiment of terror. We had just finished decorating our new house, we had heavily invested in our home and had contracted loans. We don?t even think of paying back these invaluable jewels that have gone. Apparently, we are not alone to have been afflicted in that way. Some tourists are being unashamedly robbed. I think that the country, which relies so much on tourism, cannot afford to carry such an image in a visitor?s souvenir.