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Burglaries have been stepping up again both in the Pays de Gex but also cross-border in Switzerland. The French gendarmerie has reportedly arrested those responsible for the armed robberies that began proliferating in the Pays de Gex, but also places like Nyons. The prospect of armed robberies, however, is not over. Criminal elements regard the Lake Geneva region, and particularly the Pays de Gex, as an open supermarket with rich pickings. Neither the local mairies nor the gendarmes are going out of their way to keep people informed. Nor are they willing to provide advice on what precautions to take. The Plaindealer explores what needs to be done, and fast.

Security in the French Pays de Gex region as well as on the other side of the lake in France and across the border in Switzerland remains a significant issue of concern among local residents. People are not just worried that armed incidents may occur again – and could go badly wrong - but that the authorities are not taking appropriate action to keep people appraised.

Nothing has changed at all,” said one Grilly (Pays de Gex) resident. Another, whose house in Echenevex was burgled at the beginning of this month, is deeply worried that break-ins continue to occur with such ease in her village. “I really wonder what the gendarmes are doing about this.” Normally, the gendarmes turn up, ask a few questions, dust a bit for finger prints and then disappear. There appears to be little or no follow-up to such incidents. Or at least, the police are not telling anyone if they are.

Last 7 February 2007, nearly 100 residents from at least 10 communes (Mourex, Grilly, Cessy, Gex, Echenevex, Versonnex, Sauvergny, Nyons and Versoix) on both sides of the border got together for a town hall meeting in Grilly. It was like the start of a mini-revolution. People were particularly angered by recent incidents involving armed “homejackings” in the Pays de Gex but also in neighbouring Switzerland, where there has been a rise of armed carjackings. There was also irritation that little - or not enough – is being done to counter it.

During the first few weeks of 2007. the Pays des Gex (estimated population: 60,000) witnessed a sudden surge of armed attacks against residents, particularly in the area lying between Gex and Ferney. At least seven of the Pays de Gex incidents involved armed men forcibly entering a house and holding the family or people present hostage.