Myanmar media reported that fighting broke out in the township of Se Seng in southern Shan State, and while the local people fled, some criminals disguised themselves as local people and carried out theft in groups in the township.
One local said the thieves were well disguised and provided a porter service for the people, and then went to the city to check which houses had occupants and which ones had not. As soon as they find a house with no one to guard their homes, they will notify their gang to steal. Some even take the order first, saying that they will help them move things the next day, but they will commit the theft the night before, and when they contact them the next day to ask them to move things, they will refuse.
It is reported that this gang has both men and women, including doctors who have committed crimes, criminals who have escaped from prison, etc., and they can steal entire neighborhoods in one day.
One of the men who were stolen said the thieves were not stealing because they were hungry, but rather taking it as a job. For the past few days, my car was left in Xisheng Town, but now I go home and find that the car is also missing.
Another woman said that the thieves entered the neighborhood during the day, and they were like locals and started their operations at night, which must have been planned by them. When they enter an unoccupied home, they take away what they like or need, even soap boxes.
Local people said that it was really chilling for them to do this kind of thing during the war, and they hoped that the authorities could crack down on it.