KARACHI, Dec 26: An analysis of the crime figures pertaining to cellphones theft has identified the areas most prone to snatchings in the 18 towns of the city during 2006. The analysis carried out by the Citizen’s Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) has pinpointed areas from where the most cellphones were snatched at gunpoint between January1 to December12, 2006.
NIPA Chowrangi in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town has been identified as the most notorious spot for cellphone snatching as 155 sets were taken away by armed men during this period.
Data shows 126 phones were stanched from University Road, 79 from Gulshan Chowrangi, 61 from Hasan Square, 60 from Old Sabzi Mandi and 50 from Civic Centre.
Similarly, Burnes Road ranked top in Saddar Town with 127 cellphones snatched at gunpoint. Burnes Road attracts people from all over the city, especially at night, as popular eating places are located on this road and its adjoining streets. The financial hub of the city, I.I. Chundrigar Road reported 95 cellphone snatchings.
The analysis show 69 cellphones were stolen from Lighthouse, followed by 68 mobile phones stolen from Abdullah Haroon Road, 66 from city courts, 65 from Merewether Tower, 61 from Lea Market.
The city courts is another spot where people converge from all parts of the city, bandits find easy targets taking advantage of the rush.
The statistics show 131 cellphones were snatched from Jamshed Road making this the most notorious spot in Jamshed Town.
With 114 snatchings during the last eleven months and 15 days, Baloch Colony is the second most notorious area for cell phone theft. Tariq Road comes third with 112 snatchings. People from all over city converge for shopping on this popular road. Nursery, another central area of Jamshed Town reported 57 cellphones stolen.
Buffer Zone Sector 15-A is on top with 99 cellphones snatched in North Nazimabad Town followed by Hyderi Market with 85 snatched phones closely followed by Sakhi Hasan with 70 mobile phones taken away by armed hoodlums.
Karimabad reported 115 cellphone thefts making it the worst hit locality in Gulberg Town, followed by 81 snatchings from Water Pump and 38 from Aisha Manzil.
The most popular and upmarket food street of the city, Boat Basin reported 57 cellphone snatchings making it the hottest spot in Clifton which is in Saddar Town. Seaview, where Karachiites come to escape the city’s commotion saw 35 mobile phones snatched followed by 28 cellphone thefts reported from DHA Phase II.
In New Karachi Town, Nagan Chowrangi reported 110 cellphones snatched while 63 were taken away at UP More.
Golimar Chowrangi reported 43 cellphone stolen rendering it the trouble spot in Liaquatabad Town following by 30 cellphone snatchings from Nazimabad Chowrangi.
The CLPC chief, Mr Sharfuddin Memon said the increase in this sort of criminal activity in the current year was observed as people had started informing the CPLC about such acts. The data shows 17,676 cellphones were stolen during the period under review.
He said during 2005, between 150 to 200 cellphones and sometimes even more were stolen daily in the city, but the people were reluctant to report the incident. It was only in December 2005 that proper reporting of cellphone snatching was started by the CPLC, Mr Memon added.
“We have started sending the data to the respective town police officers,’’ Mr Sharfuddin Memon said.
