Police sources say that the threat of thieves is increasing in Colombo and its suburbs as the floodwaters begin to recede. Residents of the area point out that there have been several reports of outsiders entering and stealing goods from some houses that were submerged in the floodwaters before the owners returned.
Drug addicts are more likely to be involved in such thefts. They point out that the police have had to work hard to suppress such thefts due to the deployment of police officers for relief work and daily duties.