Jaipur: From copper wires used in air conditioners to construction materials, and from e-rickshaws to bikes, thefts and burglaries in the city over the past week have plagued residents and left the police perplexed.
Between Dec 24 and 30, over 90 FIRs of various thefts and burglaries were registered across multiple police stations in the city. These figures, mentioned in the daily crime reports of the city police, indicate that thefts, particularly of cars and bikes, have resulted in many complainants flooding the police stations.
A police official admitted that there has been a slight uptick in thefts in the city, largely due to the onset of winter, which provides ample cover for the gangs as the days get shorter. "Many of these thieves, according to our experience, are drug addicts who are willing to steal anything, from small buckets to wires to bikes and mobiles, to fund their drug addictions," said the official.
Despite the city police regularly arresting suspects involved in various heists, new gangs continue to emerge. One FIR filed last week complained that the accused had stolen items from an under-construction site, while another FIR mentioned wires being stolen. This trend is raising concerns as the suspects are no longer just targeting gold and cash, but also metals and wires, which can be sold cheaply as scrap.
Speaking to TOI, a station house officer (SHO) pointed out that limited resources for patrolling are a major challenge. "The areas under the police station's jurisdiction have expanded exponentially over the years, but there are barely enough personnel and vehicles to patrol each nook and corner. Therefore, we usually focus our patrols on sensitive locations such as banks, ATMs, and market areas," he said.