In an effort to curb the growth of crime - especially robbery, house theft and chain snatching – Bengaluru police on Thursday held an awareness drive involving pawn brokers to inform them about the ill effects of such the criminal activities.
Additional Commissioner P. Harishekaran, who led the programme, said that creating awareness among pawn brokers can reduce the robberies and chain snatching incidents drastically.
Majority of the robberies and chain snatching crimes arer committed, especially by young people, get money by pledging the booty to pawn brokers. If police manage to convince pawn brokers against taking the booty, the crime rate will reduce considerably, he said adding that the pawn brokers would also avoid getting booked under cases related to stolen property receivers, he said.
In addition to this, pawn brokers who tip-off the police and help to nab the offenders, would be taken into confidence.
Around 150 pawn brokers were present at the programme.