RAWALPINDI: A surge in the number of street crimes has been reported to the police with criminals stealing 20 motorcycles, three other vehicles, mobile phones and cash.

According to police statistics, 17 incidents of motorcycle theft, robbery, burglary and general theft took place on Saturday while the remaining incidents, including lifting of 16 motorcycles and robberies, occurred in the last one week. However, all the cases were registered with the police on Saturday.

On the other hand, the police claimed that the increase in the number cases on police record was due to “free registration” of cases by the police.

Abdul Haseeb Khan complained to the Banni police that he was returning home when two armed persons intercepted him at Asghar Mall Scheme and snatched Rs38000, a mobile phone and his motorcycle.

Fiaz Ahmad, a resident of Ratta Amral, was robbed of Rs20,000 and a mobile phone by three robbers.

Noman Ali, a resident of Dhoke Kala Khan, said robbers raided his shop and snatched Rs80,000 from him and Rs30,000 from a customer along with a mobile phone.

Fahim Khan said a gunman robbed him of cash and a mobile phone in Naseerabad while Mohammad Arif, a naanbai, complained to the RA Bazaar police that burglars broke into his shop and stole Rs60,000.

Mohammad Naseer, a resident of Waris Khan, lost Rs230,000 after burglars broke into his house in the absence of his family.

Syed Roze, of Morgah police area, said burglars stole Rs4 million, gold jewellery worth Rs2.5 million and a mobile phone from his house.

Rahim Shah’s car was stolen from Mandra while one rickshaw each of Hamza Khan and Jameel Khan were stolen from Waris Khan and Naseerabad.

Nawazish Ali, Mohammad Yaqoob, Saqib Ghulam Hussain, Ehtashimul Haq, Waheedur Rehman, Mohammad Arif, Iyaz Khan, Abdul Razaq, Khalid Mehmood, Qasim Tariq, Ijazul Haq, Suleman Munawar, Syed Omer Bilal, Safdar Hussain and Zeeshan Ali approached the police from different areas about the theft of their motorcycles.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2021