Criminals deprived 4,504 people of cash, valuables, vehicles and other belongings worth more than Rs3 billion in Islamabad from January 1 to September 30 this year, according to capital police records.
Police registered 4,504 cases of dacoity, robbery, snatching, burglary, theft and vehicle theft during the nine-month period. The incidents left six people dead and 44 injured, including 22 who sustained bullet wounds.
The stolen and looted property included Rs998,512,325 in cash, valuables worth Rs1,699,821,525 along with 868 tolas of gold, 97 vehicles, 1,905 motorcycles and 1,781 mobile phones. Of the recorded incidents, 518 took place in houses and 187 at commercial centres.
Police sources said that the actual number of victims and crimes, along with the value of stolen property, was higher than the figures in the registered cases. They said that police had sealed or kept dozens of First Information Reports confidential because the victims were foreigners or important personalities.
The records showed that police registered 10 dacoity cases during the period. The incidents left one person dead and four injured, while the gangs involved looted Rs26,355,500 in cash and valuables worth Rs9,544,500. They also took two tolas of gold, two motorcycles and 14 mobile phones.
Robberies accounted for 993 cases, including 28 in houses and 40 at commercial centres. Nine robberies followed the kidnapping of victims, while one allegedly involved policemen and another involved people posing as officials.
The incidents left five people dead and 35 injured, including 22 who sustained bullet wounds. Robbers took Rs297,020,292 in cash, valuables worth Rs155,208,918, 81 tolas of gold, seven vehicles, 200 motorcycles and 1,082 mobile phones.
Police also recorded 551 snatching incidents, including five in houses and four at commercial centres. The perpetrators took Rs115,830,930 in cash, valuables worth Rs40,616,005, 17.5 tolas of gold, four vehicles, 11 motorcycles and 458 mobile phones.
Burglars targeted properties in 627 incidents, including 512 house break-ins. They stole Rs115,830,930 in cash, valuables worth Rs447,699,445, 499.64 tolas of gold, seven motorcycles and 328 mobile phones.
Theft cases accounted for another 1,304 incidents, including 485 in houses and 143 at commercial centres. One victim sustained injuries in a theft incident. The stolen property included Rs407,482,556 in cash, valuables worth Rs809,362,785 along with 626.28 tolas of gold, two vehicles, 18 motorcycles, 543 mobile phones and 39 laptops.
Thieves also took two meters, 29 batteries, including vehicle batteries, 26 vehicle tyres, eight transformers, 10 bicycles and 105 animals. A couple of Safe City cameras and other equipment also went missing.
Police registered 84 vehicle theft cases and 1,667 motorcycle theft cases during the nine months.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Operations Ali Waseem said that police had arrested suspects and recovered stolen valuables.
