Dangerous Bangalore: Robbers explore Bangalore’s soft spots

DANGEROUS BANGALORE
Robbers explore Bangalore’s soft spots
The Times of India

Bangalore: Robberies are assuming a pattern in the city. Emp l oye e s returning from night shift, elders and housewives are increasingly being targeted. Lonely roads on the outskirts of the city are a preferred area of operation for the criminals.

Monday was no different. Two men on a motorcycle snatched a 40-gm gold chain from Susheelamma while she was taking a stroll on 5th cross in BTM Layout. Riders also targeted a morning walker in the neighbouring Tilak Nagar area. They snatched two gold chains worth over Rs 40,000 from Bhanumathi near Jayanagar III Block swimming pool.

On Sunday night, dacoits looted valuables worth over Rs 1 lakh from a house in Rajarajeshwari Nagar after assaulting the aged residents. In another incident on Sunday night, four persons came in an autorickshaw and abducted a canteen owner, Ramashetty, while he was waiting for a vehicle near Hennur Cross and took him to an isolated stretch in HRBR Layout. They assaulted him and looted Rs 4,800, a mobile phone and a wrist watch.

Chain snatchers have been repeatedly targeting housewives in Mico Layout, Tilak Nagar, J.P. Nagar, Jayanagar and the southern parts of the city. Techies, BPO executives and hotel staff who travel during night in the city are soft targets for criminals. Last week, many two-wheeler riders were robbed on Ring Road and Mysore Road in Byataryanapura and Kengeri police limits.

A police officer said, “There is uneven staff distribution in city police stations. While the stations on the outskirts face severe shortage of policemen, stations in the central areas have surplus staff. The smaller Chickpet police limits has around 90 policemen and Byatarayanapura limits only 40.’’

Chickpet, Ashok Nagar and Upparpet police stations are much in demand among policemen seeking transfers. Some policemen insist these are not easy-tomanage areas.

“Chikpet may be a smaller area, but the density of population and quantum of money transactions is higher here. If the staff strength is decreased, cash snatchings and other crimes will increase.’’