Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Police personnel embark on a `crime mapping' exercise

The authorities have decided to step up crime prevention measures, says R. Rajaram

A spurt in property crimes and the value of stolen property during the calendar year 2006 has prompted the law enforcement authorities to focus more on the "prevention" aspect and embark on a "crime mapping" exercise.

Though the detection and recovery rate of stolen goods by the city police in 2006 were more than the state average, the authorities, however, have decided to step up crime prevention measures.

Police sources here say 503 property crime cases were reported in 2006 compared to 403 in 2005. Thefts alone accounted for a whopping 428 cases among the property offences. Dacoity cases rose from two to four and robbery cases from 11 to 17 during the corresponding period. However, there was a fall in burglaries from 75 to 54. The police are yet to make a breakthrough in a murder for gain case reported in Thillai Nagar police station limits a few months ago.

In the entire Central Zone comprising seven districts Tiruchi City ranked second after Tiruchi (Rural) in detection and recovery, they point out. The value of lost property during 2006 was estimated at Rs. 1.27 crore that was almost double the extent of the previous year. The recovery and detection rates were 82 per cent and 91 per cent respectively.

Two-pronged approach

To prevent property crimes and other offences, the city police have embarked on a two-pronged approach - stepping up night rounds and posting extra beats in "crime prone" areas.

As part of their crime prevention strategy, the City Police have identified Woraiyur, Cantonment, K.K. Nagar and E. Pudur as "crime prone" areas based on the number of cases reported. They have begun to concentrate more in these areas by carrying out "intensive and extensive" night rounds.

"We have stepped up night rounds and begun to cover more areas with a view to reducing crimes substantially", says the Commissioner of Police, Shankar Jiwal. Extra beats and one extra patrol vehicle for each one of the identified crimes prone areas have been put in place. Night rounds have been intensified since the third week of December. Simultaneously, the law enforcers have also started profiling potential criminals, "bad characters", previous offenders and those released from prison.

The process of crime mapping exercise, which has already commenced, will enable law enforcers to redefine their strategy and know where and how to concentrate, say the police.

What is also worrying the police is the trend of petty offenders switching over to property crimes.

They have begun the exercise of profiling such offenders as well. Efforts were also on to locate criminals with inter-district operations.

Burglaries come down

The authorities inform that the night patrol undertaken by 200 personnel led by an officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police across the city limits has begun to fetch results in the recent times. They cite the reduction in the number of burglaries ever since the initiative was undertaken. Particularly, no theft of two-wheelers was reported during night times, they claim. An action plan is in place and the work of personnel is reviewed on a daily basis, they point out.

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