ISLAMABAD: Criminal activities such as robberies, burglaries and auto thefts are increasing in the capital as the police registered 5,466 cases in the first five months of the current year compared to 1,934 such incidents in the corresponding period of last year.

Details collected from the police showed that from January 1 to May 31, 1,048 robbery incidents were registered compared to 399 cases in the previous year. Out of the total, 368 incidents were registered with the Industrial Area, 361 with Rural, 243 with Saddar and 76 with City Zone police.

Likewise, 695 snatching incidents were reported to the police compared to 176 cases in the first five months of 2021. Out of the total, 273 snatching incidents were registered by the Rural, 248 by Industrial Area, 141 by Saddar and 33 by the City Zone police.

A total of 594 burglary incidents - 244 at Rural, 188 at Saddar, 104 at City and 58 at Industrial Area Zone - were registered so far in 2022 compared to 203 such incidents in 2021. Moreover, 1,374 incidents of thefts – 372 at Rural, 361 at Industrial Area, 341 in Saddar and 300 at City Zone – were reported so far this year compared to 289 last year.

The capital police also registered 295 cases of theft of vehicles to 259 cases in the year 2021.

According to the data, 1,439 cases of motorcycle thefts were also registered by police in 2022 – 476 at Rural, 405 at Saddar, 302 at City and 256 at Industrial Area Zone – compared to 587 cases during the first five months in 2021.

On the other hand, a decline was seen in recoveries of looted items in the current year. The police data showed that recoveries were made in 88 cases so far this year compared to 106 in the corresponding period of last year.

So far this year, the police recovered 22 stolen cars and 28 motorcycles compared to 35 cars and 26 motorcycles in 2021, it said, adding recoveries of looted or stolen items were made in 35 cases in 2022 compared to 45 in 2021.

During the current year, the police registered 75 murder, 146 attempted murder, 140 hurt cases, one case of kidnapping for ransom and 418 incidents of kidnapping and rape compared to 66 murder, 89 attempted murder, 167 hurt cases, one kidnapping for ransom and 263 kidnapping and rape cases in 2021.

Moreover, 50 fatal and 55 non-fatal road accidents were registered by the police this year compared to 48 and 27, respectively, from January to May 2021.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2022