Knock, knock! Bengaluru police visit homes to make city safer

Bengaluru: Residents of Suddaguntepalya in the city's southeast division are opening their doors to an unusual sight this week — uniformed police teams dropping by after dusk, not to probe a crime but to prevent one.As part of crime prevention month, officers are making late-evening rounds to homes, sharing safety tips, answering queries on cyber fraud and even noting civic concerns, all in a bid to build trust and keep year-end celebrations trouble-free.Teams comprising 15 officers each, led by two police sub-inspectors and accompanied by women personnel, have been visiting houses across neighbourhoods, engaging families in late-evening conversations.The visits are timed deliberately. "We go at night so that all members of a household are available," said an officer involved in the exercise. The initiative, known within the force as "area domination", is aimed at building visibility and trust while flagging risks that tend to spike during the year-end festive season."These interactions help us create awareness on crime prevention and also share dos and don'ts for New Year celebrations," DCP Sarah Fathima told TOI. "People have been asking a lot of questions, especially about cybercrimes. We explain how cybercrooks operate and what precautions families should take. We are also engaging with anti-social elements, rowdy-sheeters and history-sheeters to understand their routine activities. With large-scale celebrations coming up, we want to minimise risks," she said.The doorstep discussions have gone well beyond cyber safety. Residents raised concerns about drug abuse among minors, abandoned vehicles left unattended on streets, stray dog menace at night and persistent garbage issues. For many households, the conversations became impromptu civic feedback sessions, with officers noting down complaints and offering guidance. Checks at lodges and PGsAlongside neighbourhood visits, city police have also stepped up inspections of lodges, hotels, paying guest accommodations and service apartments. Officers are verifying the details of occupants, particularly those who have recently arrived in the city."These visits serve two purposes," a senior officer said. "They help us identify whether any suspicious elements are staying in the city, and they also act as a deterrent as anti-social elements become aware of regular police checks." House owners renting out premises to foreign nationals have been strictly instructed to submit tenant details to their jurisdictional police stations without fail.

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