Kerala - Kochi   

Law & Order

Builders complain of an increase in thefts on construction sites, but the police say there is no sudden spurt of such cases, writes Anand Haridas

Thieves targeting building sites?

Flourishing construction activities within city limits are resulting in an increase in thefts of building material, say a few builders.

The police, however, maintain that such cases have always been there, and no sudden change in pattern in criminal activities has been recorded of late.

Those at the helm of leading construction firms say that the threat of thefts is most at properties along water bodies. "There is no way we can stop people from coming in boats and leaving with construction material, mostly steel," says Rafi Mather of a building group.

He says that though private security personnel are employed on some sites, this has only limited impact. "Most of these robbers are hardcore criminals and it will be dangerous to stop them," he says.

Mr. Mather says that if the police control room is alerted, a patrolling party will be present near the site for some time. But that will not help stop thefts.

The police say that there is reluctance on the part of construction companies in reporting crime. "We need crime to be reported even to initiate preventive action. Unlike what is said in media reports, the actual number of cases reported at stations is much fewer," says City Police Commissioner P. Vijayan.

He says that reported cases, such as a major robbery of steel from the site of the proposed container transhipment terminal at Vallarpadom, were solved soon after complaints were received.

Intensified patrolling

A solution being mooted is intensifying patrolling of backwaters. "Currently, two boats of Kerala Marines are patrolling the backwaters. Soon, we will be adding one more boat for patrol," Mr. Vijayan adds.

The police are also trying to work out a strategy to check the boats found in the backwaters at night.

Private security

For the time being, builders are relying on private security personnel for guarding work sites.

"We floodlight the area and employ security personnel depending on the size of the plot and the value of material stored there," says Lava K., managing director of a construction group.

The security personnel are also provided with mobile phones to alert officials concerned in case of thefts, he adds.

The worst affected by this trend will be construction sites of individual houses, and not those of apartments or villas.

Those in the industry prefer to take this situation as part of the game and get along.

Neither they nor the police seem to have any permanent solution in sight to the problem.

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