Efforts to bring down thefts in Coimbatore

The public were earlier involved in monitoring the movements of ex-convicts

November 22, 2014 10:48 am | Updated 10:48 am IST

Recent detections of thefts and burglaries in and around the city clearly show that some of the accused were involved in previous offences and were even detained under Goondas Act.

Detention under Goondas Act implies that they were arrested more than once for their repeated involvement in crimes. And, it has brought to focus the necessity of monitoring ex-convicts regularly.

When grave thefts, murder or other crimes take place, the police will first see if ex-convicts of the same locality, who committed similar offences in the past, are involved. Only after ruling out their involvement will the police extend their look out for ex-convicts from the rest of the district and across the State.

Retired police officials feel that the age-old practice of monitoring ex-convicts from the time they were released from the prison could bring down crimes.

The local police used to pay surprise visits to ex-convicts’ houses and monitor their activities. This gave the ex-convicts moral fear and stopped them from indulging in crimes.  

Though checking ex-convicts is still in practice, it is done on a quarterly basis. A couple of decades ago, the public of a locality were also involved in monitoring the movement of ex-convicts in their respective area.

They used to call the police if the ex-convict was spending lavishly or if he was moving out of the house during odd hours.

However, involvement of the public in monitoring ex-convicts has dropped dramatically. People are too occupied to know their neighbour. Frequent shifting of houses by ex-convicts added to the hurdles in monitoring them.

Another reason cited for poor monitoring of ex-convicts is said to be the delay in getting the jail release list. The list that is supposed to reach local police stations before the release of the convict is now done quite late, after the convict is let free.

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