Theft cases on the rise, Thane CP issues directives to intensify patrolling

THANE: With rise in incidents of vehicle thefts in Thane, Police commissioner K P Raghuvanshi has issued directives to all zonal DCPs to intensify patrolling especially at vulnerable areas and conduct surprise checks regularly in the city limits.
According to police, the top cop was concerned over the rise in incidents of vehicle thefts and the poor detection rate.According to the police department, in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, automobile thefts are on the rise.
Last year the police department had decided to rope in Bollywood personalities to create awareness among vehicle owners. It may be noted that the traffic police in Thane had organised a function at Korum Mall in Thane last January, where film personalities advised people about the precautions that one has to take before parking or leaving his vehicle in public or private places.
Local police stations, in tandem with the traffic department, are setting up bandobast at different places prone to the crime. "We have identified areas and deployed extra security," said a senior police officer.
Of the 283 registered cases of vehicle thefts during January to March, about 55 are almost cracked.
Chain snatching cases get higher
Crime records show that the recent climb in chain-snatching numbers is not an anomaly. Since the last five years, the number of such crimes has been steadily rising in Thane and Mumbai, although the rate of case solving has remained an abysmal 41 per cent.
Of the 107 incidents of chain-snatching registered during the three months of January-March, a good 130 cases remain undetected. The dismal detection rate has added to the growing unease among the citizens here who said that a sense of fear and insecurity prevails, especially for women, who are easy victims of the armed thieves.
Preventive measures to void chain snatching
*People should be advised to avoid unnecessary exhibition of their jewellery on their person
*Be watchful about suspicious movements of persons nearer coming either on foot or on a bicycle or on motor vehicle
*Raise an alarm when the offender attempts to snatch the chain, in order to attract the attention of passers by.
*People particularly lonely women at home should be cautioned to be wary of persons who come with seemingly innocuous purposes, asking for drinking water or enquiring about address or under the guise of electric meter reader, telephone lineman, postman or gas delivery boy etc.