A LAUTOKA family is living in fear after an inmate from the Lautoka Corrections Centre entered their compound and stole clothes off their clothes line.
Nilesh Chand said the incident occurred about 7.40am yesterday at his Dawai St residence in Natabua.
"The prisoner must have been hiding in the bushes behind our house because my wife who was washing at the back of the house did not see him until she noticed the clothes missing from the line and she saw him pulling off his uniform and putting on the clothes," he said.
"She screamed and he ran back into the bushes again.
"I called out to my neighbours and they alerted prison officers.
"I was very scared and feared for the safety of my mother, wife and two-month-old son.
"Many times when I'm at work, the women are alone at home and I am really worried about them."
Mr Chand said it was the first time that a theft had occurred in the 15 years he and his family have resided at Natabua.
He said the prisoner was caught immediately after the alarm was raised.
The clothes were returned.
When contacted, Western Division Supervisor of Prisons ASP Oliver Fisher said he was in Sigatoka and would comment once he was updated.