Make sure your house is theft-proof

Before going on vacation, ensure your home is properly locked and valuables are in bank lockers

NAVI MUMBAI: With cases of burglary and vehicle theft on the rise during summer vacations, the police have appealed to residents to take steps to keep their belongings safe.

Sources from the Na vi Mumbai crime branch told HT that compared to 2014, instances of burglary increased by 30% and those of vehicle theft rose by 35% during the vacations in 2015. Most instances of burglary were reported at Kopar Khairane, Vashi, Rabale and Panvel.

Sure sh Mengde, deputy commissioner of police ( special branch), said, “It has been observed that over the years, the cases of burglary rise in March, April and May, when residents lock their flats and go on vacations. Spotting an opportunity, thieves target these houses.”

“Residents use strong locks on their doors and secure their windows so that thieves cannot gain easy access to these houses. They should fix grills at all their windows and use safety doors at the main entrances of their flats,” said Mengde, adding, “Residents should keep jewellery and other valuables in lockers before going on vacation.”

“Many people do not fix grills on their windows, because it ruins the look of the house. But to maintain the ‘look’, they don’t realise that they could be putting their belongings at the risk of being stolen,” said an officer from Vashi police station.

According to Mengde, “CCTV cameras should be installed on every floor of housing societies as only security guards are not sufficient. Security guards should be hired from authorised agencies and their photo-id proof should be submitted to the nearest police station.”

“People should install steel doors in their flats and inform their neighbours whenever they go out of the city,” said Sangeeta Alphonso, senior police inspector from Nerul police station.

“They should keep a light in a room of their flat switched on so that the culprits won’t target their flats assuming someone is in there,” added Alphonso.

On the security measures incorporated in Nerul, where a high number of burglary cases have been reported, Alphonso said, “We will consult members of the Peace Committee and Mahila Dakshata Committee in our area and seek their cooperation to solve such crimes. We have also distributed advisories among residents of Nerul. We have also put posters across town to spread awareness among the people,” she added.

“We have decided to extern the habitual offenders from our area. Recently, we have identified four such criminals. We have sent a proposal to the deputy commissioner’s office to extern them,” said Satish Gaikwad, senior police inspector of Kopar Khairane police station.