On the rise: Spike in street crime raises alarm bells

Police demand computerised system to record details of criminals

PESHAWAR:

If police reports are to be believed, there has been a spike in robberies, mobile-snatching, car-lifting and car-snatching in the city over the last three months. Furthermore, an average of six people get mugged on the streets of Peshawar every day.

These facts and figures provide a yardstick to determine how law and order has deteriorated to a point of no return. The prevalence of street crime has created an atmosphere of fear.

Case files

Sajid, a resident of Tehkal, will always remember August 7 as the day his phone was snatched on University Road. He was travelling on his bike when two armed motorcyclists intercepted him and took his valuables. When Sajid resisted, he was shot and injured.

Last week, two real estate workers, Tahir Islam and Tahir Zaman,  were allegedly killed on Dalazak Road by robbers. The deceased’s relatives blocked the road in protest and demanded the arrest of the culprits behind the incident.

Shortly after the incident, four shops were robbed in Khushal Market, Hashtnagri. The traders in the area threatened to go on strike if the burglars were not arrested. However, police assured protesters action would be taken against the culprits.

Around the same time, in Muradabad, Tehkal, two armed men looted Saifullah, who hailed from Darra Adam Khel. They snatched cash worth Rs25,000 and two mobile phones from him at gunpoint.

Crime and punishment

The surge in street crime has sent alarm bells ringing and made residents acutely aware of the perils of their surroundings.

“There has been a sharp decline in kidnapping for ransom and extortion cases after a crackdown by the counter-terrorism department recently,” said Mujahid Khan, a resident of Kohat Road. “However, at the same time, there has been an increase in street crime.”

According to Mujahid, pickpockets tend to target those who use public transport.

“Meanwhile, those who have their own cars or motorcycles usually become victims of bike, car or mobile snatchers,” he added.

Cops and robbers

A police official confirmed that street crime in the city is on the rise. “Over the last seven to eight years, the police has focused its energies on eliminating militancy,” he said, “This allowed criminals to get off the hook as little attention was paid to street crime.”

The official said the police needs a computerised system to record details of criminals involved in these activities.

“Unfortunately, no system exists as of now,” he added.

Traffic police recently installed CCTV cameras along GT Road and University Road to monitor the flow of traffic and keep a check on criminal activities.

“However, criminals have found a way to evade arrest,” another police official told The Express Tribune. “They tend to avoid areas where CCTV cameras have been installed.”

Although existing mechanisms of dealing with street crime have their shortcomings, the situation has not entirely spiralled out of control.

“Several robbers and car-lifters have been killed in police encounters,” said another police official. “We are aware of the situation and are taking action to prevent  street crime.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2015.