HYDERABAD: Property offenders are staying away from technology in order to avoid getting caught by the cops. In recent incidents, the police have found that property offenders, especially those involved in break-ins, dacoity, and snatchings, have not been carrying mobile phones with them while committing the offence.
Usually, the police are able to pick up clues from mobile phone towers in the vicinity of the crime scene. “We collect details of all the mobile phones active in the vicinity of the crime scene at the time of the offence and then zero-in on the offenders,” says a Detective Inspector (DI).
The police have been successful in the past at cracking cases related to property offences by tracking down mobile phones. Now, however, they are having to update their methods in order to keep up with the offenders.
“As they are not using mobile phones, we are employing more conventional methods to track them down. After every offence, the offenders leave behind some clues, including fingerprints, which we use to track them down,” says T. Murali Krishna, the DI of Falaknuma.
The age-old technique of having a network of informants combined with footage from CCTV cameras also helps the police identify and apprehend offenders.
“Only amateur offen-ders, who are new to crime, carry mobile phones. Habitual offen-ders do not do that anymore. They conduct some analysis when they are caught, so as not to leave any clues the next time,” says DSI Syed Taher.
There are several gangs of property offenders in operation in the city. “Several of them have been caught and detained under the provisions of the Preventive Detention Act. Meanwhile, some new gangs from other states and old-timers who have been released from jail are committing offences,” said another police official.
