Husby residents take matters into their own hands
For several months, residents of Husby have been sounding the alarm to the police. Drug addicts have been living in their basements and storage rooms, robbing and breaking into cars. But no change has occurred, and in the end, the young people took matters into their own hands.
”It feels like we haven’t been taken seriously. So we had to take our own measures,” says an 18-year-old resident in the area.
For several months, Husby residents have experienced problems with homeless drug addicts sleeping in garages, basements, storage rooms, and environmental sheds. In the empty spaces in Husby, located northwest of Stockholm, people crowded amongst dirty mattresses and blankets, garbage and needles, without access to heating or water.
”There have been needles everywhere in the garages and in the yards. It’s a danger to our children who play here,” says a resident in the area.
Several people that Aftonbladet has spoken to say that the drug addicts ”appeared” in early April. At first, the residents mainly experienced problems with the syringes left on the ground, but after a while, several robberies and burglaries were also linked to the drug addicts.
”These individuals are very vulnerable. They are undocumented and will be deported, but they have nowhere to go. They are desperate, so they have tried to get money by robbing people and breaking into homes,” says a police officer working in the area.
Residents also report thefts from the mosque, broken car windows, and in some cases, allegations of attempted rape.
”It has been quite extensive. Several women, for example, have been robbed of their cell phones when they have been on their way to the laundry room or the store,” says a police officer.
Reports continued to come in
During the spring and summer, the robberies and burglaries continued, and more and more reports were made to both the police and the housing companies that own the spaces where people have been sleeping.
”We have even received tips about this from criminal individuals. They have been worried about their families living in the area. If they contact us, it has gone too far,” says a police officer in the area.
But despite multiple reports, the robberies and burglaries continued – while the fears among the residents grew.
”There is frustration because no one is doing anything to solve the situation. We’re talking about robberies, burglaries, allegations of attempted rape. Our area has been heavily affected by shootings, and we have fought to make it safe. If this had happened in another area, like Danderyd, Djursholm, or the city center, we would have received help right away when we raised the alarm. But the authorities don’t care about what’s happening here,” says a resident.
Police officers that Aftonbladet has spoken to also express their frustration and helplessness.
”I know that we increased our presence on one occasion, but only for a week. What should happen is that they sit down and talk to people, that they speak with the housing companies. It is easy to weld shut these spaces, for example. I have worked in several areas in Stockholm, and this would never have been accepted in other areas. That’s what makes me so dumbfounded,” says a police officer.
Youth ”took matters into their own hands”
At some point during the spring or early summer, several young people decided to ”take matters into their own hands” because they were concerned that older, younger, or people out alone would be exposed to the crimes. The young people gathered in the evenings and started looking for the drug addicts.
”We have made several reports to the police, but it feels like we haven’t been taken seriously, because nothing has changed. So we decided to find these drug addicts and try to engage in a dialogue with them,” says one of the young people. He has asked to remain anonymous but explains that he is 18 years old and has lived in the area his entire life. According to him, there were about fifteen young people who joined together in the evenings.
”We have tried to talk to them to get them to stop robbing and stealing, but these individuals are on different substances and drugs, and they have not been receptive to dialogue. Many of them have also been armed, and one time one of them attacked us. That’s when we fought back,” he says.
Formed a ”citizen’s guard”
Several times during the spring and summer, drug addicts were found severely beaten on the streets and in various spaces, while videos were spreading showing the young people chasing them.
”The young people have started pushing back and forming what can be called a citizen’s guard. They are desperate and afraid that something will happen to their families. They don’t want more people to fall victim to robberies, so they resort to violence,” says a police officer.
And with that, the problem grew even worse. For the police, the reports were no longer just about robberies and burglaries – now, there were also reports of homeless people being assaulted. For the residents, the fear and anxiety continued to grow. Several testified that they no longer dare to go alone to the store or laundry room. Additionally, several meetings were held between the police, the young people, and voluntary associations in Husby – but without concrete results. It was also in connection with this that Aftonbladet was contacted about the situation.
”This is a problem that needs to be highlighted. The residents of Husby don’t feel like they are being taken seriously while the homeless individuals are being treated very poorly,” says a police officer.
”Betrayal from the authorities”
At the beginning of July, the sun is shining over Husby. The scent of warm fruits fills the air from the stands set up in the square near the grocery store and the subway. By this time, it has been two or three weeks since the last reports of robberies and assaults came in. The mattresses, drugs, and needles that were previously scattered in the garages and stairwells have now been removed, and the doors to the environmental sheds have been barricaded. The residents do not know where the homeless individuals are now, but many believe they have gone to other parts of the Järva area.
Soar, 26, and Osman, 25, are both active in the Upprustningen i Husby (Renovation in Husby) – a voluntary organization that works with night walks, homework help, and advocacy in vulnerable areas.
”I want to start by saying that it is wrong for the young people to resort to violence. We at Upprustningen condemn violence and taking the law into your own hands,” says Soar and continues, ”But the fact is that it was the young people who scared them away and made the problem stop. It is tragic that it
