Rising crime in Mangaluru: Citizens alarmed by unresolved thefts

Team Udayavani, Jun 23, 2024, 9:57 AM IST

Mangaluru: The city of Mangaluru and its outskirts have witnessed a surge in thefts over the past few months, with the police yet to solve these cases. This growing trend has left citizens anxious, fearing it may embolden more criminals. The latest incident occurred on Friday night at a businessman’s house in Ulaibettu Permanki.

A Series of Thefts:

Incident 1:

On May 5, a family left for a trip to Mysore. Upon returning on May 7, they discovered Rs. 1.60 lakhs in cash and valuable gold jewelry had been stolen from their home.

Incident 2:

On May 10, the afternoon a family went out to watch a Yakshagana performance and returned the next evening to find a gold bangle, laptop, and cash missing.

Incident 3:

Another family left for a relative’s house on the evening of May 17. When they returned on May 20 afternoon, they found their gold pendant, bracelet, silver ring, watch, and other items had been stolen.

Additional Incidents:

On May 9, a resident of a PG in Kottara under Urwa Police Station left in the evening and returned at 7:20 PM to find his laptop and mobile phone stolen. An eye hospital in the city, locked by its administrative officer at 9 PM on May 18, was found with a broken lock on May 20 morning, and Rs. 74,000 was missing.

In another case, on Jan  11 in Kulasekhara, a family returned home in the afternoon to find tiles worth an estimated Rs. 3.50 lakhs and valuable gold ornaments stolen. On Dec 19 night, 160 grams of gold ornaments and Rs. 6,000 were stolen from a house in the city. In Kadri, residents who returned from Mysore on Jan 16 found their door lock broken and silver belongings stolen.

Concerns Over Reduced Night Patrols:

Residents have voiced concerns about the apparent reduction in night patrols and other security measures by the police, including area visits, vehicle inspections, and highway patrolling.

Vehicle Thefts on the Rise:

In addition to home burglaries, more than 20 vehicles have been stolen across the city in the past month. Many of these thefts are attributed to motorist negligence, particularly in the case of two-wheelers. Despite the frequency of these incidents, the thieves remain at large.