The things in her room were scattered, her piggy bank and two white gold rings were missing. She had been robbed. [break]
For KC, who works at a local non-government organization and lives at Ekanta Kuna area, “it was a numb moment.”
Though she lives in a rented property that houses 17 families, her room was robbed, and that too in daytime, she says.
As festivities near, reports of thefts and break-ins have always been in the news. But with a few precautionary measures, it can be avoided, says Deputy Superintendent of Police Himalaya Shrestha of the Metropolitan Crime Division.
Usually regarded as the peak crime months, from Shrawan to Kartik, the Crime Division in Hanuman Dhoka has recorded 14 such cases in Shrawan and five in Bhadra. Compared to past statistics, the number is however low this year.
Last year, the number of cases reported was 15 and 12 respectively, and in the year 2066/67, there were 24 cases reported in the month of Shrawan and 36 in Bhadra.
Collectively, for the year 2067/68, the total number of theft cases stood at 132 while it was 219 in 2066/67 and 198 in 2065/66.
However, it is through easy measures that people can take to save themselves from any theft, says Shrestha. Informing the neighbors while away is one way, he adds.
“Some 80 to 85 percent of robberies take place in unattended houses,” DSP Shrestha points out.
And it was when KC wasn’t home that provided an opportunity for the robbers to accomplish their task. She says if only she had requested her neighbors to keep an eye on her room, the theft might have been prevented.
Now, after the incident, KC says she always requests her neighbors to be watchful of the surroundings and be in each others’ network in case of any event as such.
But apart from break-ins, , as women deck themselves with valuable ornaments during festive seasons, robbers might just be waiting for the opportunity.
With the price of gold soaring above the Rs 50,000 mark, chances are there of people getting robbed, DSP Shrestha notes and suggests that it’s a good idea to store valuables and money in a bank locker.
With just about 4,000 to 4,500 police officers and personnel monitoring the Valley with a population of about four million at one shift, Shrestha says, as a security agency, it’s their responsibility to provide security, and thus they are constantly monitoring and establishing various checkpoints.
“But what our appeal to people is that at least inform the neighbors if the house is unattended, and be vigilant,” he advises.
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