THE police are investigating robberies in which homeowners were robbed and their houses trashed as they slept, apparently under the influence of chemicals.
The police are not ruling out the possibility that the robbers may have resorted to using chemicals that put their victims into a deep sleep when inhaled.
Police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said they were aware of incidents at Tuvu and Teidamu in Ba.
"Our officers are now on the ground investigating the cases and at the same time we're increasing community awareness in these areas to assure the people that we're here to help," Inspector Sokomuri said.
He said as a result of the robberies over the past six months, the police had stepped up their presence in these areas.
The issue came to light at a recent rural advisory council meeting in Lautoka.
Tuvu/Teidamu district advisory councillor Chandran Vellaipan said between 10 and 13 families had fallen victims to these robberies and prompted them to call for military presence in the area.
"We suspect the robbers use spray cans to release the chemicals in the air which is inhaled by people and makes them fall into deep sleep," Mr Vellaipan said.
"In some of these families, there are light sleepers who wake at the slighest noise at night.
"Yet when these incidents happened, no one woke up. They only realised they had been robbed when they woke to find their houses opened and trashed and jewellry and money stolen."
He said in some cases, dogs were also put to sleep and could not alert their owners.
Inspector Sokomuri said the job was for the police and not the military.