Following the signing of the Treaty of Mondros, the invasion process of the Anatolian land started. For the purpose of resisting the invasion, many small resistance movements were initiated in many parts of the country, and till the establishment of the regular army and the central authority, the country was defended by the guerilla activities. However, within the chaotic environment the country was in, some members of these guerrilla organizations themselves started to commit crimes such as robbery, plundering, kidnapping, raping etc. and they frightened the local people. At that time, Milas and Bodrum towns were under the Italian rule and the state authority was weak as the geography of the region is very wide, full of forests and mountainous areas, hence, there were a lot of bandits and gangs in the region. In 1919-1920, many people were killed, raped and their properties were plundered. Disagreements between the local and state authorities and lack of the interference of the security forces in the activities of the criminal organizations claiming that they were carrying their activities on behalf of National Forces resulted in the dominance of lawlessness in the region up to mid-1920s.