ISLAMABAD: Robbers and thieves looted cash and valuables from 27 different places of the capital while 82 cases of street crime were reported in the garrison city, police said on Thursday.

In the federal capital, four suspects raided a mobile phone shop in I-8 and held its shopkeeper at gunpoint. The robbers then escaped with 15 mobile phones worth Rs500,000 and Rs345,000 cash.

In another incident a gang of robbers held Khalid Rehman at gunpoint on the pretext of offering him a ride to Muzaffarabad, the police said, adding that they then snatched an ATM card from him and forced him to share its pin code. They were able to withdraw Rs50,000 cash.

Likewise, two armed men intercepted Waris Khan, a mechanic, and snatched his motorcycle. In other incidents, cash amounting to Rs140,000 was snatched from M. Ashraf at Soan Garden, Rs15,000 and a mobile phone from a man in G-15 and a mobile phone from a family in G-13.

Furthermore, thieves broke into the house of Mansoor Shifa in F-11 and took away with them gold ornaments worth Rs1.5 million, police said, adding that Rs45,000 cash and other valuables were taken from the house of M. Ather and M. Saif in Ghouri Town and Bhara Kahu.

Moreover, thieves stole Rs40,000 cash and a mobile phone from a woman onboard a pickup. Besides, cash and other items were taken away from Jibran in Chungi No. 26, Yasin in F-10, M. Wasim in G-13/2, M. Arsalan in I-8/3 and from Ishtiaq at I.J. Principal Road.

Meanwhile, vehicles were lifted from KRL and G-13/2 while 11 motorcycles were stolen from Quaid-i-Azam University, Faisal Mosque, Jinnah Garden, H-9 weekly bazaar, G-7/1, Ghauri VIP, Bari Imam, Lakeview, G-9/2, I-9 and Bahria Town.

Rawalpindi

A 21pc increase in robberies has been witnessed in the city after the number rose from 1,293 incidents in 2021 to 1,669 in 2022. Similarly, an 18pc rise in motorcycle theft cases was also seen. In 2021, 2,494 motorcycle theft incidents were reported while 3,247 was witnessed in 2022. A 29pc increase was seen in motorcycle snatching incidents, with the number rising from 144 in 2021 to 206 in 2022.

On the other hand, the Punjab police department’s personnel appear to be in a pickle over the current political situation and extensive transfer and suspensions of officials.

Hasnain Ishtiaq, a trader of Ganjmandi, lost floor tiles worth Rs908,100 after some unidentified burglars broke into his warehouse in Mohanpura. Mohsin Iqbal was robbed of Rs12,400 and two mobile phones by robbers in the Waris Khan area while Kashif Hussain and his friend reported a similar incident with the police.

Abid Qureshi, a shopkeeper of Saidpur gate, was robbed of Rs200,000 while two other persons were deprived of Rs56,000 by five unidentified robbers.

Abidullah was robbed of his laptop, mobile phone and Rs13,000 by two robbers in the New Town police area, while Gulzar Ali was robbed of his mobile phone and Rs4,500.

Tauqeer Ahmad and his two friends, who were standing near the Rescue 1122 office, were robbed of their mobile phones and other valuables.

Ijaz Ahmad lodged a first information report (FIR) with the Airport police, stating that some robbers raided his office and stole Rs981,000 and a mobile phone after holding the security guard at gunpoint.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2022