Burglary and theft offence are on the rise with the majority of those charged pleading guilty to stealing basic goods such as canned food, cigarettes, and alcohol. 

Close to 20 matters called before the Supreme Court on Monday concerned individuals accused of breaking into private residents and those that stole from their employers. 

Sefo Logopati was one of the 50 defendants who pleaded guilty to several charges of burglary and theft connected to stolen boxes of corned beef and cigarettes. 

Two young men Philip Stowers and Simone Patrick Maua accepted the charges of stealing a cash till machine and cigarettes from a Chinese-operated shop. 

A young woman Emily Skelton accepted multiple charges of theft of stolen cigarette cartons to the total value of $1200 from Frankies Supermarket. 

Another young man also accepted he stole boxes of canned fish and fine mats from a private resident. 

In the past week, more middle-aged men were appearing before the Supreme Court for theft and burglary cases compared to other cases like murder and sexual charges. 

A person is liable to an imprisonment term of not more than 10 years for burglary and theft charges. 

A senior lawyer blames parents for not disciplining their children and letting them run loose on the streets without monitoring them. 

The lawyer said the village council and church also have a role to play by enforcing curfews for evening prayers to instill in young people Christian values.

The district of Faleata and Vaimauga has been a hotspot for burglary and theft cases in recent weeks but the offence is not limited to the area.