Techie hostels turn hotspot for thieves

IT professionals leave keys near doors for others

Having one of the biggest IT hubs, the city accommodates a large number of bachelors from different states of the country, who are cooped up in hostels and paying guest facilities, which has become a hotspot for thieves. According to police, it is an easy target for crooks as the inmates leave the key near the door, for others to get in.

Vijay Kumar, the ACP of Panjagutta, the area with most of such hostels and paying guests facilities, said that the officials will be conducting a check on the CC cameras, warn the watchmans and also get the geo tagging done.

“Of all the places, the doormats, shoes and shoe racks are the favourite places for hiding the keys, making the theft easier. As the men sharing a flat have different shifts, the person leaving late night leaves the door ajar, allowing the next person to come in next day early morning,” said the official.

The ACP further added that cameras were installed and the watchmen were asked to check ID card of visitors. “We have warned the owners to keep a watch on the movements and also to keep well maintained CC cameras for easier crime detection. And as the offenders are mostly youngsters themselves who stay in touch with hostel mates, know exactly where to look for keys and walks away with stolen stash. Since they had stayed in the hostel, the guards do not suspect them. Others enter the hostel under the pretext of meeting a friend or getting admission in the hostel,” the senior police official said.

Recalling one such incident, the SR Nagar police said that they have arrested a habitual offender, Syed Raouf Pasha, 28, last year who stole smartphones and laptops from hostel inmates. “He was caught following CCTV analysis by the crime team. He targeted the hostel rooms during early morning hour by posing himself as purchaser of old beds and performed recce,” Police said.

The Hyderabad Police is planning to increase community policing and also encourage such house owners to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity and inform about the same to the cops.