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Residents of Salt River in Clarendon say they're living like prisoners in their own homes, forced to retreat indoors by 7 p.m. daily due to safety concerns.

With the area plunged into darkness since the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 3, the streets have become a hotspot for robberies, leaving locals pleading with Jamaica Public Service (JPS) to restore electricity as soon as possible.

"You can't walk around here at night; it's just not safe. There are so many robberies happening. Criminals aren't afraid to strike after dark, so by 7 p.m., or even 6 p.m., when it starts getting dark, everyone has to lock up. It's all because the place is pitch-black at night. I'm begging the Government to hurry up. People are losing their phones, money, and everything else -- they're getting snatched," a resident said.

The JPS this week said that power has been restored to 96 per cent of its customers. Salt River Road was on the schedule for restoration yesterday. On Wednesday, one resident told THE WEEKEND STAR that his patience is wearing thin, despite understanding the technical difficulties involved in the restoration of power.

"Shops close early because it's not worth the risk of losing everything. I'm no superhero, so I can't stop anyone from breaking in. People can't leave their yards, because they have to guard what little they have left after Beryl. It's not an easy job, but it's been nearly a month since the storm, and we just want to live normally again. People are living in fear here," he said.

Another long-time Salt River resident noted that the community was peaceful until Hurricane Beryl hit. He revealed that many have had their belongings stolen, but remain silent out of fear.

"There's no conflict here, just people growing old or dying from illness. But now all you hear are gunshots at night. The place is incredibly dark. Sometimes, when I stretch out my hand, I can't see it. I'm praying for the lights to come back, because people are feeling it and are too scared to talk openly about it. It's hard to work hard for your things and have them stolen," he said.

Adding to the misery, a local woman complained about the mosquito problem and unbearable heat.

"I don't know what's worse, the mosquitoes or the robbers, because the mosquitoes are fierce, too. It's like living a cowboy life here. The heat is unbearable, even at night, and if you try to cool off, you might not make it through the night. We have to pay to charge our phones, and there are no generators around. We just want the power back because we can't live like this," she said.

Sitting on the sidewalk with friends, a chef lamented having to hang up his apron due to the power outage.

"It's holding back a lot of small businesses. My cookshop across the road was damaged in the storm, and my chickens died. Without electricity, I can't buy meat and store it in the fridge. I haven't cooked a meal to sell since the storm hit. I'm just waiting for the power to come back," he said.