Theft‚ burglary cases reach record high in 2011/12

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Cases of theft and burglary reported in Kathmandu Valley have hit record high in 2011/12, according to a three-year data of Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Office.

As many as 1,055 theft and burglary cases were reported in 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12.

Property crimes decreased from 369 to 306 between 2009/10 to 2010/11 but soared to 380 in 2011/12 in the Valley.

Of the reported theft and burglary cases in the past three years, Kathmandu outdid the other districts in the Valley with 836 incidents followed by 129 in Lalitpur and 70 in Bhaktapur.

In 2009/10, Kathmandu recorded 287 cases of property crimes and witnessed a slight decline of 262 incidents in the following year and a sharp increase to 307 cases in 2011/12. Likewise, Lalitpur reported 59, 29 and 41 complaints of theft and burglary whereas Bhaktapur reported 23, 15 and 32 cases in the three years.

On average, cash and property valued at Rs 1,00,000 were stolen or burgled from an incident.

Officials said, more than 25 rackets comprising 200 suspects of property crimes were rounded up in 2011/12.

Despite police claim that it had taken measures against property crimes, incidents of theft and burglary continue to rise in the city.

Officials said they have mobilised special police teams in coordination with local police units to ensure maximum security.

Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka said that Long Route Patrolling, ambushing, pistol seizure, cordon and search, seal and search, transit points checking, mobilisation of Control Room Vehicles and Quick Response Teams, coordination with community police and mobilisation of plainclothes cops were major anti-crime strategies under way in Kathmandu.

Officials said they have also intensified formation of settlement security groups to help the community fight crime locally as a part of public-police partnership to make the city a better and safer place to live in.