Patrolling not enough to curb burglaries

Hyderabad: Despite having hundreds of patrolling personnel and armed interceptors stationed, the Rachakonda and Cyberabad police have not been able to control burglaries in isolated areas under the commissionerate limits. 

With at least two offences a day on average, about 349 burglaries in Rachakonda police commissionerate and 250 in Cyberabad have been committed. The police have apprehended about 60 offenders from Cyberabad in the last six months.

The state government spent about Rs 350 crore in modernising the equipment including SUVs and bikes, to increase patrolling with a hope that visible patrolling would decrease the number of offences. 

Worried about leaving their homes locked, citizens even take up the issue with police bosses on social media, requesting them to increase patrolling in residential areas on the outskirts. There are 48 police stations in Rachakonda and 39 police stations in Cyberabad commissionerates, with two patrolling cars and two blue colts (police personnel moving on bikes) allotted to each police station soon after the formation of the new state.

Since January this year, as many as 95 burglaries have taken place in broad daylight and 254 have taken place at night in Rachakonda alone.

Though burglaries continue, the police maintain that they have managed to reduce the number of offences by increasing patrolling.

Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said, “The commissionerate covers the outskirts and rural areas surrounding the city. We have been able to reduce crime by 50 per cent this year when compared to the previous year. Several arrests have also been made in this regard.”

Cyberabad DCP (Crimes) Dr G. Janaki Sharmila said, “Patrolling across the commissionerate has been intensified. As many as 20 hot spots have been identified using crime mapping. Several accused involved in burglaries were recently arrested and their goods were recovered. There is a decline in the cases compared to previous years.”