Cops brace for festive season crimes

AHMEDABAD: Since the beginning of Navratri, the city of Ahmedabad has witnessed over 15 thefts from residential and commercial complexes in the western city parts with goods worth more than Rs 1 lakh gone missing. With a view to curb rising instances of bag snatching, robbery and thefts before the festive season, the city police have drawn up plans that rely on increasing police visibility and detection.On Monday, Ranip police registered a case of theft of valuables worth Rs 8 lakh from a jeweller’s shop, including 10 kg of silver ornaments.
Shivanand Jha, city police commissioner said the priority is to focus on business districts such as Kalupur and CG Road, communicate with stakeholders and increase police visibility. “Over the past few years, a number of gangs from outside the city have targeted the festive season. We believe detection of cases and arrests will work as a deterrent,” he said.
Manoj Sashidhar, joint commissioner of police, Sector II, said the city police are carrying out crime mapping on a regular basis which provides them a ready reference of areas most affected by thefts and robberies. “Visibility of police in uniform on the streets works as a preventive measure. Before and during the festive season, there will be more personnel on foot and bike patrols on city streets,” he said.
Police have started random checks on the Hawk Squad, which consists of constables on bikes, at their designated stretches of road. Bipin Ahire, deputy commissioner of police, Zone I, said that the Hawk Squad’s main role will be to patrol important areas and identify suspects.
“We have asked police teams to visit banks and financial institutions on a regular basis. Security guards have been asked to identify people who have no business being there. More often than not, an accomplice gives a signal to gang members outside the establishment about large-value transactions,” he said.
CG Road, which got CCTV cover earlier this year under the PPP model, is being constantly monitored from a control room at Navrangpura police station. City police control room are similarly keeping an eye on the 400-plus cameras at various traffic junctions.
Jha added that during festive season, night patrolling would be intensified. “Many families go on vacations at this time and we see a surge in house break-ins. We have decided to increase the number of personnel on patrol from the usual 30% to 40-45% during and immediately after the festive season,” he said. Police have already started an experiment with providing tea and biscuits to watchmen in areas such as Sola and Vastrapur, to try keep them awake through the night.