Scrap dealers escape culpability

In the absence of a registration system, stolen items are discreetly traded between dealers in the junk market

KARACHI:

As Karachi’s notorious association with street crime continues to deter locals from carrying their valuables in public spaces, the growing incidence of theft from outside the private properties of residents, has pushed many into a hopeless quandary.

In addition to suffering a monetary loss following the incidence of theft, the afflicted families are faced with a major roadblock on their way to seeking justice, when the absence of a proper scrap registration system, renders it impossible to track the whereabouts of their stolen paraphernalia including gas and electricity meters, grills and batteries, which is sooner or later traded among junk dealers without leaving a trace.

Faria, a local, had her electricity meter stolen from outside her apartment building by unidentified persons during broad daylight. “Even though the flat owners were able to replace the meter in some time, there is no way for the old meter to be returned. Scrap dealers buy stolen items from thieves without investigating the nature of the item since there is no registration system for items traded in the junk market,” bewailed Faria.

Similarly, Bilal, another local, too reportedly had the batteries of his car stolen from his car, which was parked just outside his garage. “These kinds of theft have now become very common but unfortunately there is no system in place for tracking the stolen items,” concurred Bilal.

According to Muhammad Salim, President of the Union of Local Residential Flats, street crime has emerged as a growing threat in a novel manifestation, with unidentified thieves, who are usually drug addicts, stealing gas and electricity meters, keys, electric wires, vehicle batteries, iron items and other valuables, only to sell them to scrap dealers at significantly low prices. “There is no system that can allow one to track the buyers and sellers of scrap items, which allows junk dealers to continue trading stolen items with impunity,” revealed Salim.

In their defense, scrap dealers like Roshan, deny the allegation that junk sellers buy stolen goods and resell them. “While some junk dealers may be involved in this, most are not,” he maintained.

On the other hand, Malik Zahid, President of the Anjuman Kabarian, felt that the existence of loopholes in the trade system of junk markets allowed dealers to trade stolen items. “There should be a system of registering junk items so that the buyer and seller can be identified in the event of theft,” opined Zahid, who further added that swift legal action must be taken against the buyers and sellers of stolen property.

Addressing popular concerns, the spokespersons for both the Sindh Home Department and the Sui Southern Gas Company claimed that citizens who complained of stolen property were compensated immediately through their helplines.

Speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter, the Karachi Police’s Sub-divisional Police Officer, (SDPO) Arif Hayat said,” The Inspector General Sindh alongside the Additional Inspector General Karachi have issued orders for the registration of details of scrap dealers at the police station level. Moreover, the identity card numbers and all other relevant information shall be entered in the register at the time of purchase and sale of goods. If anyone violates this process, action will be taken against them in accordance with the law.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2023.