Ignoring the burglars’ advice

LUCKNOW: If prevention is better than the cure, why aren’t some of the valuable tips offered by burglars themselves, to keep their ilk at bay, being cashed-in on by the police?
The arrest of Rajesh Singh by the Talkatora police in March, 2001 had led to the recovery of 13 colour television sets, 10 LPG cylinders, half-a-dozen VCRs and VCPs, coupled with loads of utensils and household goods.Rajesh had admitted that the booty recovered was merely what he had laid his hands on, in a matter of four weeks prior to his arrest. this undoubtedly qualified him to be labelled an expert in his ‘field’.
Talking to this newspaper, Rajesh had then said, “to begin with, it is the newspapers lying on the porches of houses, which suggest that the occupants are out�. He added that if there were newspaper two or three days old lying there, it was proof enough that the occupants were out for at least a few days. Hence striking at the house offered the minimum risk.
Another alleged burglar arrested by the Gomtinagar police in February, 2000, Ravi Ram Dhanuk had also revealed indicators for potential target houses, while talking to this newspaper. “If the gateway is covered with dust and the garden is found uncared for, it also suggests that the occupants of the house are away, as there has been no movement at the gates,� Dhanuk said.
For kleptomaniacs like Satish Kumar Singh, the son of an executive officer (EO), arrested by the Ghazipur police in March, 2001, it was cash, jewellry and electronic goods that made the best booty.
Why? Because these are the easiest to dispose off, and their chances of recovery are also bleak, even if the burglar is arrested.
Satish also revealed how he started off in the world of crime, with petty thefts in his neighbourhood. He claimed that unemployed youths in localities are generally the ones who go for small things like a child’s bicycle, a gold chain and the like.
A specialised branch of thieves — the auto-lifters, too have some valuable tips for owners of two-wheelers. Most vehicles are lifted within five minutes of them being parked by the owner. The reason being that the owner would take at least five minutes to get back from wherever he has gone, and hence it gives the auto-lifters a comfortable window of time. Gone are the days when stolen vehicles were parked at the parking lots at cinema theatres and the railway station parking lot. Now there are complete teams involved in such crimes, with one person lifting the vehicle and others taking it outside Lucknow.
Hence if you find your vehicle missing...act fast, before it gets away from you...literally!