Crime cases in the city have reduced considerably in the last three months, said Commissioner of Police T. Rajendran on Friday.
Pointing to statistics of crime reported in the city from July at a press conference at his office in Egmore, he said there was a 31 per cent dip in cases reported here.
“There is a fifty per cent reduction in cases of burglary and cheating in the time period. In fact, Thursday was a crime-free day,” he said.
The total number of the cases reported in Chennai city was 192 in June, 190 in July, 163 in August and 123 September. A total of 66 accused were arrested in connection with 79 cases and gold jewellery worth Rs. 1 crore, sandalwood worth Rs. 40,000, 61 motorcycles, a car, Rs. 2,30,610 cash and other stolen items seized from them.
Mr. Rajendran said that most cases were theft of motorcycles from different parts of the city.
“Police teams have arrested nine persons and 61 motorcycles have been recovered from them,” he added.
Police have planned elaborate security measures at different places of congregation in the city especially T. Nagar and Purasawalkam for the festival season. A total of 10,000 police personnel would be pressed into service for festival duty.
Mr. Rajendran said areas including T. Nagar, Purasawalkam, Flower Bazaar, Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur and Koyambedu had been identified and a total of 30 watchtowers would be erected.
Apart from 2,800 CCTV cameras already in place, more cameras would be fixed at necessary locations in these areas, mainly outside jewellery showrooms.
Traffic changes would come into effect in T. Nagar, Flower Bazaar and Purasawalkam for the festival season, he added.
The security and traffic arrangements were likely to be extended till the end of Pongal.
