Street crimes

Since the start of 2022, Karachi witnessed a sharp increase in armed robberies and snatching at gunpoint, which raised alarm and panic among the citizens. A recent study confirms that nearly two-thirds of Karachi’s population has experienced such an incident in one way or another and one-fourth have directly suffered a loss. It is either the negligence of the law enforcers or the slow response or both that have allowed criminals to go rogue spreading fear among citizens. Street crimes have been carried out in broad daylight, at night as well as in packed public places where witnesses become bystanders.

Most residents claim to have been a victim of street crimes more than once. Videos circulating on social media often clearly reveal the criminals’ faces or their vehicles’ number plates, yet none are ever caught. Despite being aware of the alarming situation, both the provincial government and municipal authorities have done little more than lip service to address the situation. Earlier, the police released street crimes data compiled from the same period last year that showed a rise in the snatching of mobile phones, motorbikes and four-wheelers. But it is no secret that most people who have fallen prey to street crimes do not approach the police due to a trust deficit while many cases are not lodged by the police. Therefore, official data does not reveal a true picture of the situation.

A rampant increase in street crimes is not a good look for the metropolitan as it will drive away investors and tourists. All factions should work together to restore normalcy and law and order in the city. Besides installing CCTV cameras and increasing patrolling in the city, both the police and the public must make a concerted effort to coordinate and pursue cases to ensure that criminals are caught and put to trial.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2022.

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