Gadag cops launch monitoring system to prevent burglary in locked houses

GADAG: In a bid to prevent thefts and burglaries in houses kept under lock and key, police here have launched the ‘Locked House Monitoring System’ (LHMS) to keep a tab on all residences that are currently unoccupied.
“We have introduced this monitoring system on a trial basis from Thursday,” BS Nemagouda, the superintendent of police, Gadag, told TOI.
According to a police source, criminals often target locked houses and in recent months, many cases of thefts and burglaries have been reported from such buildings.
Deploying LHMS will help ensure heightened safety measures and better monitoring, police assured.
Gadag reported 55 house thefts in 2022, with 15 such cases reported in the last three months. Police said 90% of locked houses have been burgled in recent months.
To avoid such crimes, police have advised all residents to inform thelaw keepers whenever they go out of station. Nemagouda said locked houses are easily targeted by thieves since they’re sure not to be met with any resistance.
The official said in spite of repeated instructions and alerts issued by the police department, many people still do not bother to keep the local police station informed whenever they go out of station, leading to an increase in the number of thefts at such premises.
Police come to know about unoccupied houses only during their beat visits, the SP said.
Gururaj Budihal, ASI, police tech team, said it took a month to develop the system.