JHELUM, Aug 15: The Jhelum district recorded a surge in crimes during the last five years with an average increase of six per cent over the period.

The increase in the crime rate in 2005-06 alone was over 30 per cent, according to data collected by the Heinous Crimes Management Cell (HCMC).

Regional Police Officer (RPO) DIG Nasir Khan Durrani said the HCMC in Rawalpindi’s Region-III had complied the record of robberies that took place in the three districts of Jhelum, Attock, and Chakwal during 2006-07.

He said findings of the HCMC’s Crime and Analysis Wing would be helpful in working out crime control strategies and patrolling plans.

During the years 2002-07, 985 cases of robberies were registered, with 426 in Jhelum, 278 in Attock and 281 in Chakwal.

Giving the category-wise breakdown of robberies, Mr Durrani said total cases of house robberies were 318 (32 per cent), highway robberies 225 (23 per cent), vehicle snatching 179 (18 per cent), cash snatching 91 (nine per cent), shop robbery 52 (five per cent), mobile snatching 15 (two per cent) and miscellaneous crime 95 (10 per cent).

In-depth analysis showed that the peak time for robberies was between 8pm and midnight, house robberies 12am and 4am, and highway robberies and vehicle snatching 8am and 12pm. The RPO was of the view that the crime record would go a long way in understanding the nature, behaviour, and targets of the criminals.—Correspondent