Robbing spree: Shopkeepers afraid to name culprits
Continuous thefts taking place in Majeed Colony.
"Thefts have become routine and my shop has been burgled twice this month," said Shahid Khan, who owns a cellphone shop in the colony's market. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Dozens of traders and shops owners of Majeed Colony, Landhi, gathered at the Quaidabad police station on Thursday to lodge a complaint against the increasing numbers of thefts in the area.
"Thefts have become routine and my shop has been burgled twice this month," said Shahid Khan, who owns a cellphone shop in the colony's market, which comprises around 200 shops. According to Khan, thefts of this nature have been going on in the market for nearly three months now and over a dozen shops were robbed this month alone. "A single group is behind all the thefts and the police, despite receiving a large number of complaints every week, have yet to do something about it," said Khan. He added that the police merely register their complaints but do not take any action.
On Thursday, the thieves looted a cloth shop owned by Akram, a resident of the colony. The thieves broke the shop's shutters and stole cloth worth Rs300,000. According to the shop owners, the police have asked each complainant to nominate somebody in their complaints but the complainants are afraid of doing so. The shops owners have now decided to hire watchmen for their shops to prevent more thefts from taking place.
The Quaidabad police station SHO Ahmed Asim said only two shops were robbed this month and the thieves are from the colony itself. "I have repeatedly asked the shops owners to give me the names of those who they think are behind the thefts but they are scared to speak up and I cannot arrest the entire colony over suspicions," said Asim. "They know who is responsible for the crimes and if they cooperate with us we can stop this in no time." Asim said that they have asked the traders to keep their watchmen in touch with the police vans that patrol the area. He also said that late-night load-shedding also provides the thieves an opportunity since the residents of the colony stay outside their homes during these hours.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2014.
Dozens of traders and shops owners of Majeed Colony, Landhi, gathered at the Quaidabad police station on Thursday to lodge a complaint against the increasing numbers of thefts in the area.
"Thefts have become routine and my shop has been burgled twice this month," said Shahid Khan, who owns a cellphone shop in the colony's market, which comprises around 200 shops. According to Khan, thefts of this nature have been going on in the market for nearly three months now and over a dozen shops were robbed this month alone. "A single group is behind all the thefts and the police, despite receiving a large number of complaints every week, have yet to do something about it," said Khan. He added that the police merely register their complaints but do not take any action.
On Thursday, the thieves looted a cloth shop owned by Akram, a resident of the colony. The thieves broke the shop's shutters and stole cloth worth Rs300,000. According to the shop owners, the police have asked each complainant to nominate somebody in their complaints but the complainants are afraid of doing so. The shops owners have now decided to hire watchmen for their shops to prevent more thefts from taking place.
The Quaidabad police station SHO Ahmed Asim said only two shops were robbed this month and the thieves are from the colony itself. "I have repeatedly asked the shops owners to give me the names of those who they think are behind the thefts but they are scared to speak up and I cannot arrest the entire colony over suspicions," said Asim. "They know who is responsible for the crimes and if they cooperate with us we can stop this in no time." Asim said that they have asked the traders to keep their watchmen in touch with the police vans that patrol the area. He also said that late-night load-shedding also provides the thieves an opportunity since the residents of the colony stay outside their homes during these hours.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2014.