Street crimes escalate in capital

Reports filed at different police stations in the capital city indicate that street crime is on the rise with many citizens going about their day being targeted and deprived of their vehicles, cash and other valuables.

To be precise, recent reports show that citizens lost four cars, 10 motorbikes, Rs886,000 in cash and other valued items in street crime incidents that took place around Islamabad.

In one incident, a citizen was even shot and injured upon resisting a snatcher. The Secretariat police station reported that his mobile phone was snatched from him.

In another case where the citizen was harmed, Rehan A reported that Rs6000 in cash along with his office card and original identity card was stolen, and when he resisted, the unknown snatchers opened fire and injured him.

In other incidents that took place within the limits of Sangjani police station, Amjad filed a theft case that occurred at his home and Nazir M reported that his mobile phone was snatched. At the Khanna police station, Junaid A and Ahsham S filed separate reports about their stolen mobile phones, while Sundus reported stolen jewellery and cash worth Rs300,000.

Read: Call for proactive steps against rising crime

Jameel A reported a case at Nilore police station in which gold jewellery worth Rs270,000, together with a sewing machine, iron and other valuable appliances were stolen. Meanwhile, in the limits of Shahzad Town police station, Zahoor Abbas reported that his motorcycle, AJF-7824, together with Rs280,000 in cash and an ATM card were snatched. Malik Tanveer Hussain reported that his motorcycle, SAE-2789, Rs 30,000 in cash and a mobile phone were snatched.

Within the limits of the Bani Gala police station, Ghulam H reported a valuable coil was stolen, and Abdul B reported his stolen mobile phone. Tariq Mehmood filed a report for his stolen mobile phone and motorcycle, AFC-5743, at the Shams Colony police station.

In an astounding number of cases, many citizens had their cars stolen in street crime incidents. Syed Sarwar Shah’s car, BX-952, was stolen from the Ramna police station area and Zahoor Ahmed’s car, LEF-8913, from the Karachi Company police station area.

While cases have been registered by the concerned police stations no incident has been traced back to the criminals.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st 2024.