Mateen Hafeez TNN
Mumbai: Petty crimes like pick-pocketing, theft, chain-snatching and baglifting have dropped after the city police, post-13/7, began helping shop-owners install CCTV cameras in south Mumbai. The triple blasts in July had left 27 dead and many injured.
While the Zaveri Bazar, Pydhonie and Opera House areas used to record around 100 such cases a month, it has now come down to 10-15.
“The thieves know they are being monitored by electronic devices. There were many petty cases, but after the installation of many cameras in these areas, complaints and the number of crimes have reduced drastically,” said Anil Kumbhare, deputy commissioner of police (zone-II).
The police said 132 cameras were installed at Mangaldas market (also known as Mulji Jetha Market), 142 at the Thakurdwaar market (known for imitation jewelry) and over 60 at Kalbadevi’s ballbearing market.
The anti-terrorism squad and crime branch, working jointly on the 13/7 blasts, have got a firsthand account of the scene of crime on that fateful day through some CCTV footage.
“Petty crimes would often go unreported. People would come, provide their names and addresses, but were not interested in an FIR being filed. Now, the number of such victims coming to the police station has dropped and there is no major crime in lanes where the cameras have been installed,” said Kumbhare.
He said the police had surveyed the entire area and studied the sensitive points. “We marked specific points where the CCTVs had to be installed after thorough research. The cameras have been installed at shops so that they cover maximum area. We had made suggestions to shop-keepers and issued them guidelines about the camera positions and locations,” said Kumbhare. Of the 14 entry points at Mangaldas market, the police have kept only six open.
WATCH OUT
The crimes
Pick-pocketing; theft; chainsnatching and bag-lifting
Where
Zaveri Bazar, Pydhonie and Opera House
What happened
Crime has reduced after the city police, post-13/7, began helping shop-owners install CCTV cameras
Then and now
Around 100 such cases a month, now 10-15
The Times of India, September 27, 2011
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