ISLAMABAD: At least 4,500 people fell victim to different heinous crimes in the capital during the current year and lost belongings worth over Rs3 billion.
Details collected from the capital police revealed that the police registered at least 4,504 incidents of dacoities, robberies, snatching, burglaries, thefts and auto thefts from January 1 to September 30. In these criminal activities, six people were murdered and 44 were injured, including 22 who sustained bullet injuries.
Out of the total incidents, 518 were committed in houses and 187 at commercial centres. Cash amounting to Rs998,512,325, valuables worth Rs1,699,821,525, 868 tolas of gold, 97 vehicles, 1,905 motorcycles and 1,781 mobile phones were either looted or stolen.
Police sources said the number of victims, criminal activities and the value of cash and valuables involved was much higher, as dozens of FIRs relating to the incidents were either sealed or kept secret. Such steps were taken as the victims were either foreigners or important personalities, the sources added.
Police arrested criminals and recovered valuables from them, says DIG operations
During the period, the police registered at least 10 cases of dacoity, in which one person was murdered and four others were injured. In these crimes, dacoit gangs looted cash amounting to Rs26,355,500 and valuables worth Rs9,544,500. Besides, two tolas of gold, two motorcycles and 14 mobile phones were also looted.
The police also registered at least 993 incidents of robbery, including 28 house robberies and 40 commercial centre robberies. Besides, nine robberies were committed after the victims were kidnapped, while one was committed allegedly by policemen and another by persons disguised as officials.
Five people were murdered and 35 injured, including 22 who were shot and wounded, in the robberies. The robbers looted cash amounting to Rs297,020,292 and valuables worth Rs155,208,918. Besides, 81 tolas of gold, seven vehicles, 200 motorcycles and 1,082 mobile phones were also looted.
The police also registered 551 incidents of snatching, including five in houses and four at commercial centres. In these criminal activities, cash amounting to Rs115,830,930 and valuables worth Rs40,616,005 were looted. Besides, 17.5 tolas of gold, four vehicles, 11 motorcycles and 458 mobile phones were also snatched.
During the period, 627 incidents of burglary, including 512 at houses, were also registered. The burglars stole cash amounting to Rs151,823,072 and valuables worth Rs447,699,445. Besides, 499.64 tolas of gold, seven motorcycles and 328 mobile phones were stolen.
The police also registered 1,304 incidents of theft, including 485 house thefts and 143 at commercial centres. In one such incident, a victim was injured by the thieves.
In these crimes, cash amounting to Rs407,482,556 and valuables worth Rs809,362,785 were stolen. Besides, 626.28 tolas of gold, two vehicles, 18 motorcycles, 543 mobile phones, 39 laptops, two meters, 29 batteries, including vehicle batteries, 26 vehicle tyres, eight transformers, 10 bicycles and 105 animals were stolen.
Moreover, a couple of Safe City cameras and other equipment were also stolen.
The police also registered 84 vehicle theft and 1,667 motorcycle theft incidents during the period.
When contacted for comments on Monday, Deputy Inspector General of Police Operations Ali Waseem said the police had also arrested criminals and recovered valuables from them.
He promised to provide details of the police performance, including the number of arrests and recoveries, but despite the passage of three days, the information was not provided despite repeated requests.
Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2026
