2020 vs 2021: Murder cases in Ghaziabad down, but thefts up in first 6 months

GHAZIABAD: Incidents of theft are on the rise in the areas under the jurisdiction of almost all police stations in Ghaziabad so far this year. According to Ghaziabad police data, a total of 1,284 FIRs of theft have been lodged in the district from January 1 to June 30 this year, a spike of nearly 19% compared to the corresponding period in 2020, when 1,082 cases were filed.
Most of the theft cases registered this year (977) are vehicle thefts. The data reveals that most vehicle thefts have been reported in Kavi Nagar (139), followed by Indirapuram (115) and Sahibabad (95). The most burglaries have occurred in Sahibabad (41), followed by Indirapuram (35).

A senior police officer said Indirapuram and Sahibabad are adjacent to Delhi, due to which burglars target them as they can make a quick getaway to Delhi. Most of the couples in these areas are working, and burglars break into their homes while they are away at work, he said. The burglars come to work in these areas as daily wagers and domestic staff and carry out recces before committing crimes. "So far, over 30 thieves have been arrested by police who broke into houses in these areas with this modus operandi,” the officer added.
The number of homicides, however, has seen a dip of 10% — while 27 FIRs of murder have been filed till June-end this year, the figure stood at 30 in the corresponding period in 2020. Loni has become one of the hotspots for heinous crimes with six murders, followed by Muradnagar where four cases were filed.
Three murder cases each have been reported in Masuri, Tronica City and Loni border. Two were murdered in Nandgram and Kavi Nagar each, while only murder was reported in Bhojpur, Modinagar, Kaushambi and Indirapuram. Not a single FIR of murder has been lodged in Kotwali, Vijay Nagar, Sihani Gate and six other police stations so far this year.
In the last six months, only one dacoity has been reported in the district — six armed robbers barged into the house of a property dealer in Loni on May 26 and robbed the family of cash and jewellery amounting to over Rs 1 crore. The incident took place around 2.30pm, when six people on three bikes came to the house, barged in and took the family hostage at gunpoint for over 30 minutes. No arrests have been made in this case till now.
Meanwhile, 23 cases of loot and snatching have been reported in the district. Kavi Nagar tops the list with five FIRs, while Sihani Gate and Tronica City have registered three FIRs of loot or snatching each.
Ghaziabad SP (rural) Dr Iraj Raja said that police patrolling in the district has been increased to check crime. “CCTV cameras have been installed along roads so that police can keep an eye on them as well,” he said.
Asked about what steps have been taken in urban parts of Ghaziabad, SP (city-1) Nipurn Aggarwal said police teams have been deployed in public places both in uniform and in civilian dress to curb snatchings and loot. “More checkposts are being set up on roads so that police can catch suspects,” he said.