No robbery, kidnapping in UT this April

CHANDIGARH: With empty streets, closed shops and altered routines, the new cityscape amid the epidemic has thrown usual crime patterns. While robberies and kidnappings are down by 100%, petty thefts continue and smuggling of liquor is thriving even during the curfew.

According to police crime statistics of April 2020, no incident of kidnapping, sexual harassment, stalking or robbery was reported. In April last year, 15 cases of kidnapping, six cases of sexual harassment and two cases of stalking and robbery were reported.

With people spending all their time at home, thieves are finding it hard to break into houses, said police, and are instead targeting vehicles parked outside houses or on streets.

Although theft of two-wheelers

has gone down by 75%, some pockets in the city are reporting a few thefts. However, no cars, SUV’s, jeeps and other fourwheelers or three wheelers were reported stolen this month.

Besides, other petty thefts, too, are down by 68% and burglaries at night have decreased by 45% in April as compared to last year. But, residents are still complaining of minor thefts.

As per trend of the last three years, there has always been a spurt in snatching cases in March and April. But this year, only five cases were reported in April, as compared to last year when 20 cases were reported.

94% DECLINE IN RAPE

Only one case of rape was reported to the police in April this year, as compared to 17 last year, police said. Even dowry cases are down by 77%. Police say although few cases of domestic violence and dowry have been reported, these numbers could be artificially low as victims may not be able to report abuse in the presence of their abusers.

BUT 55% SURGE IN LIQUOR SMUGGLING

April saw a surge in cases of liquor smuggling. As many as 17 FIRs were registered under the Excise Act alone, as compared to 11 last April. Locals said it smugglers had patronage of police.