At a time when hundreds of policemen were patrolling the city’s streets to prevent robberies, a sub-inspector on duty at the modern control room was shocked to see his mobile phone missing from the table on Friday.
As outsiders have no access to the control room in Egmore, manned by police personnel in shifts, the SI began an inquiry, and zeroed in on a police constable, who admitted to having stolen it.
A classic case of the guardians of the law going unguarded.
Having recovered the mobile phone from the constable, senior police officers let him off with a warning.
According to police sources, the constable is a repeat offender, having been issued with multiple memos for dereliction of duty and taking leave without sanction. Family circumstances drove him to commit the theft, they said.
Intensified patrolling
Following 15 cases of mobile phone and chain snatchings reported on a single day last week, the city police have intensified patrolling during nights for effective crime prevention.
Over the past four days, the police detained more than 4,000 people with criminal records, non-bailable warrants pending against them and absconders.