LAHORE: The provincial capital has witnessed a massive crime surge during the first nine months of 2023 as compared to the same period of 2022, while a record 550 crime incidents have been reported during the last 24 hours here.

The police experts attribute this crime surge to the prevailing economic crisis, while the independent observers blame it on negligence and incompetence of Lahore police.

According to reports, over 150 bikes were being snatched or stolen daily in various parts of the city.

The experts say the vehicle lifting/snatching has increased manifold since the prices of motorbikes went up due to the high inflation in the country. They say a known company has increased its motorbike’s prices for the sixth time in the ongoing year despite falling sales. The price of a 70CC bike has been increased to over Rs170,000, while of 125CC over Rs280,000.

This massive surge in the prices has made motorcycles an attractive target for criminals who also find it convenient to sell the two-wheelers in the market. The sources say that last year on average 100 bikes were stolen or snatched daily in the provincial capital, but the figure has surged to nearly 150 this year.

Similarly, they say, the house robberies have also increased manifold, besides snatching of cash, mobile phones and jewellery at gunpoint on roads and streets of Lahore.

There were reports that dacoits looted over 10 houses at gunpoint in the city during the last 24 hours.

A few days back, armed men entered the residence of a foreigner woman in F Block of Model Town, held her at gunpoint, collected currency in dollars and other valuables from the house and fled the scene.

According to official figures, the armed men allegedly killed 17 people during robberies for offering resistance in the first nine months of this year in various parts of the city, while the number of such incidents was 12 last year, showing an upward trend in such heinous crimes.

Meanwhile, the incidence of kidnapping for ransom has also increased this year as nine such incidents were reported during the first nine months of 2023 as compared to seven reported last year in Lahore.

About crime against persons, a source says that 553 people, including women, have been allegedly murdered during the first nine months of this year, while last year, 371 were allegedly killed in various parts of the provincial capital.

Armed men committed 15,504 street crimes during the first nine months of 2023, while the figure was 12,284 last year, showing a massive surge in this category of crime.

The robbers snatched 1,308 motorbikes from January to September this year, while 945 incidents of this nature were reported last year, according to the police record. Similarly, 23,078 bikes were stolen during the first nine months of 2023 as compared to 20,001 in 2022.

The situation is also alarming in terms of theft incidents as 80,394 crimes of this nature were reported during the first nine months of this year as compared to 67,238 reported last year.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2023