STAR investigations have revealed that several dons, despite not being placed on the police recent wanted lists, have gone into hiding because of fear.

The thugs, although not even of major interest to the security forces, are taking no chances and have left the areas they control to seek safe haven in other places.

They are mostly from communities in the Corporate Area and St Catherine.

One area leader for a community in east Kingston, who claims to have no connection with west Kingston, told THE STAR that since the operations of the security forces he has sought refuge in upper St Andrew.

"Mi deh up inna di hills wid mi people dem a cool out ... Mi naw lie it look like di babylon (police and soldiers) dem a go fi everybody eventually so mi naw tek no chance. Mi drop een a my place now and then but mi nuh too stay deh," he said.

Another area leader who 'governs' a section of the Kingston 13 area in St Andrew said he too has limited his presence in the community as he fears being held by the police even though he claims there is no reason for them to have an interest in him.

"Mi nuh have nuttin wid wah a gwaan but yu cyaa tek nuh chance wid dem eno worst a state of emergency and dem hold yu as long as dem feel like. Mi jus gwaan hold a vibes pon a different ends and a watch dem ..," he reasoned.

"Yu cyaa too sure eno so a betta mi safe than sorry. Is about a week now mi nuh go a my scheme eno," one St Catherine area leader also claimed.

In a recent interview with THE STAR, CIB Head, Assistant Commissioner Les Green, said the police were aware that criminals were trying to evade the attention of the police and begged for residents islandwide to assist the police by giving information upon noticing strange faces in their communities.

While talking to THE STAR regarding the situation, another police source was quick to ridicule the actions of the men who he dubbed 'toy soldiers'.

"Yu nuh see seh a toy soldier dem. A dem same one gwaan like seh dem big and bad and now dem a run and a hide from wi. It really funny to me mi naw lie," the officer reasoned.