Kharghar residents on edge over rise in house break-ins

There have been 54 burglaries in houses from January to October; awareness programmes by police fail to prevent crimes

KHARGHAR: Despite being one the biggest and most populated areas in the city, there has been a steep rise in house break-in cases in Kharghar this year. From the period between January and October, there have been 54 such cases and cash and valuables worth Rs1.03 crore have been stolen.

According to the Kharghar police, of the 54 cases, while 24 have taken place during the day, 30 have taken place at night. The police said that 17 case have already been solved.

Although the police have conducted security awareness programmes for residents of housing societies and have issued guidelines to be followed, there seems to be no solution to the rising crimes.

“We have conducted meetings with residents of housing societies and informed them about security measures to be followed by them to curb house break-ins in the node,” said Suryakant Jagadale, senior police inspector, Kharghar police station.

Apart from installing closedcircuit television cameras, the other guidelines include conducting background check of candidates before appointing them as security guards at housing complexes, installing safety doors and preventing hawkers’ entry to housing societies.

However, frequent news of house break-ins and robberies in the node has residents worried. With robbers gaining easy entry into homes despite doors being locked and grills in place, there is a definite need for more security cover, said locals. They have also demanded that the police patrol in the area at night.

“We are doing our best to contain the crime. Residents, too, need to be vigilant and take at least basic measures for securing their houses. Most people spend lakhs of rupees on purchasing homes, but little on securing them. The mentality has to change,” said Jagadale.

WITH ROBBERS GAINING EASY ENTRY INTO HOMES DESPITE DOORS BEING LOCKED AND GRILLS IN PLACE, THERE IS A DEFINITE NEED FOR MORE SECURITY COVER, SAY LOCALS