When residents let in air and burglars

Shivaji Prabhakar of Virugambakkam left the windows of his ground floor apartment open before going to sleep in the hot summer night. In the morning, his caretaker found the mosquito net covering the window cut — thieves had made away with money from a bag a few feet away from the window

“My mother-in-law’s bag was kept 5 feet away from the window. The burglar is suspected to have taken a stick from the garden and lifted the bag. He stole only money. The bag, with cards and other belongings, had been left behind,” Mr. Prabhakhar told The Hindu.

Police say such thefts are common during summer. “Those who do not have air-conditioners either sleep on the terrace or with doors and windows open. Thieves either make away with their gold chains or mobile phones that are reachable from the window or gain entry into homes and escape with the loot,” said a police officer.

Burglars also target houses where air-conditioners are running. “Sounds are not easily audible to those sleeping inside a closed air-conditioned room,” said a senior police officer.

Thieves also strike in the summer because many residents close their houses and travel on vacation with their families.

Increased patrolling

Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan has directed all police stations to increase patrolling as a preventive measure.

“Police stations have been advised to sensitise the public on different types of burglaries that happen during the summer,” said a senior police officer.