Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051221600400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Crime rate up in first quarter

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The crime rate in the State capital has gone up in the first quarter of this year compared with the corresponding period in 2004. Stating this at a press conference here on Thursday, Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Mohanty said, however, property offences like burglaries and thefts had come down considerably from 2,151 for first four months of 2005 to 1,893 for the same period this year.

White-collar offences and bodily crimes witnessed a spurt. Mr. Mohanty said jewellery shop owners as well as customers and employees of banks need to be careful since inter-State gangs of offenders were frequently striking in summer.

Recovering stolen vehicles was becoming a tough task for the police since some thieves were dismantling and selling them in parts. "Hence, vehicles owners better use improved locking systems for the safety of their vehicles," he appealed.

While 52,664 cases under special local laws were booked in this April, the figure stood at 18,579 in April last. Similarly, the number of cases registered in this April under the Motor Vehicle Act were too high at 1,94,217, compared with 1,27,692 cases for the corresponding period last year.