The Hindu : Karnataka News : Easy pickings for burglars

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Sunday, Jun 19, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Easy pickings for burglars

House break-ins spike in the city

A spurt in burglaries has become a matter of serious concern for Bangaloreans. In the last two months, at least 50 houses and some temples have been broken into. Expressing unease over such break-ins, residents have appealed to the police to increase night patrolling and install police pickets in vulnerable areas.

The Platinum City job

Last fortnight, thieves struck at eight houses in Platinum City — a gated community — on a single day. Platinum City, which has 1,400 home units, is reportedly manned by 29 guards during the day and 50 at night. Visitors have to sign the logbook and their cars are to be checked. The burglaries have not been solved yet.

“Most residents of Platinum City don't know their neighbours. Also, most flats have substandard door locks, which made the burglars' job quite easy,” said an officer familiar with the investigation.

Golden opportunity

According to the sources at the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB), the city witnesses at least 600 house break-in thefts (HBTs) every year. So far this year, thieves have struck around 150 houses, shops, commercial establishments and temples. “As gold prices are skyrocketing, miscreants are targeting locked houses in search of the yellow metal,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Division) S.N. Sidramappa said.

SCRB sources say incidents of burglaries are up in the vicinity of Vijayanagar, Rajajinagar, Kamakshipalya, Girinagar, Banashankari, Ramamurthynagar, Yelahanka, Hebbal, Peenya, Rajagopalnagar, Kalasipalya, Ulsoor, K.R. Puram and Jayanagar. “We have increased patrolling in these pockets,” a top police officer said.

Burglary is an opportunistic crime and a burglar will look to make a quick buck. To break into a house, steal and get away is a piece of cake for professionals. So it is up to people to be careful about their valuables by taking basic precautions, Mr. Sidramappa said.

Some arrests

Meanwhile, the city police arrested some 500 people in connection with 600 criminal cases in the last six months and recovered around Rs. 10-crore worth stolen valuables.

M.T. SHIVA KUMAR

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