Open invitation for burglars as most new areas remain dark

VADODARA: It is not just the lack of basic

infrastructure

in the areas under

Vadodara Urban Development Authority

(VUDA), but crime too has been bothering the residents. Police do not patrol internal areas due to lack of roads, and in many places, residents themselves have formed night patrols to curb thefts. Many are also spending thousands on personal surveillance or security measures.


In April 22

bikes were stolen by a gang

from the up-scale residential buildings in Bhayli. Now residents are losing their sleep, taking turns to stay awake at night and patrol for collective safety. For those living in Bill and Kalali, finding houses burgled has become routine. Since many row houses remain vacant or unsold due to lack of roads, burglars have a free run of the area, breaking in and stealing costly bathroom fittings and other items.

In areas like Bill, Chapad and Kalali citizens are on tenterhooks. “There have not been any major burglaries as the houses which have been broken into so far are mostly unoccupied. However, it is scary to be out once it gets dark,” said Rahul Patel, a resident of Bill.

Though these areas are outside the limits of Vadodara Municipal Corporation, they come within the jurisdiction of city police. Sources in Manjalpur police station say that it is difficult for them to patrol internal areas of Bill and Kalali at night as there are no proper roads.

“Two years ago, burglars had broken into two houses within a short period of time. They had stolen gold ornaments from one house, while in the other house they were unsuccessful as the owner woke up,” said Chintan Dave, an IT consultant living in Bhayli. He said that ultimately residents decided to pool in resources to hire extra security guards and install CCTV cameras. “Now 15 security guards patrol the 200 bungalows in our residential society,” Dave said.

B D Jadeja, police sub-inspector, Vadodara taluka police station said, “We have increased our night points and night patrolling activities in these areas after a series of vehicle thefts. It has put a brake on all such petty crime in the area.” Jadeja, however, admitted they haven’t been able to make any breakthrough yet in the vehicle thefts.

While, the police claim to have increased night points and night patrolling, residents of Bhayli have a different story to tell. They say that absence of streetlights is giving a freehand to criminals, but police are doing little.

“We had to spend lot to hire expensive security agencies and put lights outside our own buildings, yet those living in internal areas have to patrol their areas at night because there is little or no police presence,” said Bhavin Thakkar, an advocate living in Bhayli.


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