Capital residents lose Rs1b in theft cases

Islamabad has endured 8,000 cases of street crime, robbery so far this year

ISLAMABAD:

The first four months of this year have proved troublesome for citizens of the federal capital on the street crime front as cash and valuables amounting to a worth of Rs1 billion have been lost to cases of theft.

A concerning rise in the incidence of street crime, armed robberies, house burglaries, car and motorcycle theft and other cases have been observed this year. Police sources reported that a total of 8,093 cases were registered across the district from the month of January to April alone.

During this period, the stolen goods that the Capital Police did manage to recover amounted to more than Rs240 million in worth.

The highest number of cases, which is 687 incidents of theft crime, were registered in Khanna police station during this period, while Shahzad Town police station received reports of 515 cases, which is the second highest number of cases. Another 500 cases were reported at the Aabpara police station, making it the area in which the incidence of theft cases was third highest in the district.

Additionally, police sources said that a total of 12,159 people were named in these cases, out of which the police was able to arrest only 5,796 accused, while 6,363 accused evaded capture. This translates to almost a 47% success rate, which leaves much to be desired in the capital’s present state of security. The Express Tribune attempted to contact the SSP Operations to inquire about the police’s position on the situation, but no response was received.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2024.