Sankranti is celebrated for almost a week, and this is the time miscreants, especially housebreakers and chain-snatchers, wait for.
Most of the people lock their homes and leave for their native place, and this gives ample opportunity for the offenders to break in and make good with the valuables.
Keeping this in mind, the city police are organising a massive campaign to create awareness among people on what they should do for the safe custody of their valuables.
On an average, the crime rate, especially instances of housebreaking and chain snatching, goes up by at least 20 per cent during this period, says Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) T. Ravi Kumar Murthy.
And that is why we have launched this multi-pronged awareness campaign, he adds.
The campaign includes distribution of pamphlets at various public utility places, including shopping malls, sending bulk SMS to people, use of mobile loud speakers, and slides in cinema halls.
Giving a few tips, Mr. Ravi Kumar Murthy says that people who lock their houses and leave for their native place are advised to intimate the same at the nearest police station and request the neighbour to keep a watch on their house.
“As far as gold ornaments and cash are concerned, they should not be left at home. Bank locker is the safe bet,” he says.
Precautionary stepsAs a basic precautionary measure, all the 23 police stations have been advised to bind over rowdy sheeters and petty offenders.
“We have instructed the officers to at least summon troublemakers to the station and give them a stern warning,” says Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) S. Varada Raju.
This apart, the police will be increasing the beats, including night beats, during the festival days, says Mr. Ravi Kumar Murthy.
Coastal securityKeeping the high alert status in mind, in the wake of a suspected Pakistani boat blew itself up off Porbandar after being cornered by the Coast Guard, the city police organised a workshop for fishermen and people living along the coast.
The basic idea was to educate them and create awareness on the possible terror threats, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) R. Ramana.
“Fishermen and people living along the coast are the eyes and ears for coastal security, and we have to take them into confidence for information,” said the ACP. At the workshop, the fishermen were told to look for anything irregular during their voyages, including boats and people, who could be suspects, and inform the matter to the nearest police station on return.
Telephone numbers of police officers concerned were given to the fishermen.
CommunicationIn the interactive session, the fishermen expressed the need for a communication system, as cellphones do not function in the high seas.
The police promised to look into the matter.
