11 June,2011 06:46 AM IST | | Sayed Roshan
Thieves target Khar, Bandra and Santacruz in search of gold jewellery; cops suggest alert neighbours can play crucial role in foiling break-ins
If a surge in chain snatching cases was not enough, residents of Khar, Bandra and Santacruz are now witnessing a spurt in house break-in incidents for the past few months.
As many as 13 break-in cases have been registered since last month, as compared to seven cases registered a month ago. So what is the provocation this time?
As gold prices are shooting through the roof, the thieves and robbers are targeting more and more homes in search of the yellow metal.
"Gold items are very costly and handy to carry, so thieves prefer taking away jewellery to electronic items," said a senior police officer.
Last month, the total number of break-in cases in these areas was seven, but this time it has increased to 13.
Additional Commissioner of Police (western region) Nagre Patil has taken stern actions to stop recurrence of such incidents at the earliest.
These areas, which have been witnessing a rise in the number of chain snatching cases of late, are now seeing a spurt in break-in cases. The police have increased patrolling in these pockets.
Patil said they were confident of tracing and putting a curb on such incidents at the earliest. "The neighbours play a crucial role in foiling burglary attempts.
But in Mumbai people live in the same building or may be on the same floor, but don't know each other. One should build rapport with the neighbours and inform them before leaving the house.
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One should request his neighbour to check the house if possible," said Nagre Patil.
"If one is going out for some time, the TV set inside the house should be kept on as it gives thieves an impression that there is someone inside. There should be fixed locks and grills, whichu00a0 should be checked properly.
The watchmen should not be given any additional duty other than keeping a tab on the movement of visitors," Patil added.
In a recent case, when Motilal Shah (77) and his son Nirmal Shah (40) returned home at Parizat Building on Saraswati road in Santacruz, they found the door broken.
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They immediately rushed inside, only to find gold worth Rs 43.3 lakh, silver worth Rs 1.4 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh in cash missing from the cupboard.
The Santacruz police was informed about the burglary immediately.
"We have registered a case under Sections 454, 457 and 380 of Indian Penal Code against unknown accused," said Senior Inspector Madhukar Chaudhari, Santacruz Police Station.
Past Incidents
> On May 24, thieves broke into the apartments of five police officers in Santacruz and decamped with the booty.
> On May 12, Sadanand Kinjalkar (62), a Santacruz resident, said burglars broke into his house and fled with valuables worth Rs 50,000.
> On June 1, robbers barged into the house of an RBI officer Ujwal Dhakras, and decamped with gold worth over Rs 9 lakh.
> On June 6, burglars broke into a Khar (West) home and stole cash and jewellery
