Two-wheeler thefts surge in Belagavi, people miffed

BELAGAVI: Incidence of theft of two-wheelers has witnessed an surge in Belagavi district, with 70 cases being reported in the past week. Police have launched a special drive to crack down on the thieves. An anxious public too is stepping up pressure on the cops to increase vigilance to prevent their vehicles from being stolen.
Police said, as many as 50 two-wheelers had been stolen within the limits of Belagavi city in the past five months, notwithstanding patrolling at night, and installation of CCTV cameras in most localities.
Vijaykumar Raigoli, a resident of Bailhongal taluk, was among the victims of the two-wheeler thieves. A bike he had recently purchased on loan was stolen on September 17, in broad daylight. "I had parked my bike at the store where I work, and when I was about to leave home, I was shocked to find that my bike was not there. In the CCTV footage, we found that a man had stolen the bike in daylight. Many two-wheelers are being stolen in Bailhongal. Police must crack down on the thieves," he told TOI.
Belagavi SP Sanjeev Patil said that 24 cases relating to theft of two-wheelers had been registered in Chikkodi division in 2022. "But there has been a decline in the incidence of theft following the awareness campaigns we launched," Patil said.
Belagavi city deputy commissioner of police (crime) Sneha PV rued that eight to 10 cases of stolen two-wheelers were being registered each month despite their best efforts. "Our department is stepping up efforts to recover the stolen vehicles. In such cases, habitual offenders are usually involved. We have been conducting awareness campaigns, and will soon prevent theft of two-wheelers in the city," Sneha told TOI.