ISLAMABAD:Five people were killed and over 100 injured whereas cash and valuables to the tune of over Rs930 million were looted, snatched or stolen by criminals in over 4,279 criminal activities during the first five months of the year.

According to data collected from the capital police, from January 1 to May 31, a total of 4,279 crime cases were registered by the police. These include 28 dacoities, 943 robberies, 467 snatching cases, 335 burglaries, 895 thefts and 1,611 auto-thefts.

Gold ornaments weighing 2,292 tolas, 258 vehicles, 1,675 motorcycles, 2,026 mobile phones, cash and other articles, including electronic and household items worth Rs930,820,520 were either looted, snatched or stolen from the capital during the period. The estimated value of the gold was Rs554,091,000.

The data further revealed that the police registered 28 dacoities – 10 committed in houses, nine in commercial centres, two on the streets, one committed after kidnapping a victim and another by police officials. In the dacoities, a man was murdered and seven persons were injured. Culprits looted 87.5 tolas of gold, 50 mobile phones, four motorcycles and cash and valuables worth Rs32,649,250.

The police also registered 943 robberies during the period, during which four persons were murdered and 78 injured, the data said, adding that out of the total, 48 robberies were committed in houses, 94 in commercial centres, 719 on the streets while five robberies were committed after kidnapping the victims. Three robberies were committed in the disguise of officials while a robbery was also committed by police officials in the area of Industrial Area police station.

In these incidents, the culprits looted 338.5 tolas of gold, 10 vehicles, 235 motorcycles, 1,038 mobile phones along with cash and other articles worth Rs181,262,451, the data said.

The police also registered 467 snatching incidents in which 24 victims were injured by the culprits, the data said, adding that out of the total, four incidents took place in houses, three in commercial centres and 388 on the streets. As many as 17 were committed after kidnapping victims, 35 in the disguise of officials and one was committed by police.

In these cases, the culprits snatched 110.5 tolas of gold, 10 vehicles, 20 motorcycles, 406 mobile phones along with cash and other articles worth Rs189,271,814, the data said.

The police also registered 335 cases of burglaries, out of which 273 took place in residences and 62 in commercial centres. During these burglaries, culprits looted 581.55 tolas of gold, a vehicle, 11 motorcycles, 149 mobile phones, along with cash and other articles worth Rs152,608,217.

The police also registered 895 thefts, - 241 committed in houses, 106 in commercial centres, 398 on the streets, 139 were committed by employees, one in disguise of an official while eight were committed after kidnapping victims. In these incidents, two kidnapping victims were injured while 1,173.95 tolas of gold, four vehicles, 23 motorcycles and 383 mobiles along with cash and other articles worth Rs326,065,788 were stolen.

During the period, police also registered 229 cases of vehicle theft and 1,382 cases of motorcycle theft, the data revealed.

Out of the 4,249 criminal activities, City Zone police registered 1,141 incidents including a dacoity, 145 robberies, 134 snatching,31 burglaries, 256 thefts and 574 auto-theft incidents, the data said, adding that Saddar Zone registered 863 criminal activities, 12 dacoities, 233 robberies, 86 snatchings, 75 burglaries, 195 thefts and 263 auto-thefts.

Likewise, Industrial Area Zone registered 744 criminal activities, two dacoities, 180 robberies, 118 snatchings, 36 burglaries, 130 thefts and 278 auto-thefts, it said, adding that the Soan Zone registered 998 incidents, nine dacoities, 264 robberies, 110 snatching, 96 burglaries, 196 thefts and 323 auto-thefts.

The rural zone registered 553 criminal activities, four dacoities, 121 robberies, 19 snatchings, 94 burglaries, 119 thefts and 173 auto-theft cases, it added.

When contacted, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operation) Syed Ali Raza confirmed to Dawn that there was a possibility that as many criminal incidents took place in the capital during the five months of 2024, however he linked that spike in crime rate to “criminal gangs that come to Islamabad”.

However, efforts, including snap checking at “weak points”, are in progress to decrease criminal activities.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2024