Maharashtra is No 1 in burglaries and thefts
V Narayan | TNN | Jun 7, 2011, 04.51 AM IST
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...burglaries-and-thefts/articleshow/8755237.cms
MUMBAI: It's a number one tag that's nothing to be proud of. For the fifth consecutive year, Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of theft and burglaries in the country, say figures obtained from the National Crime Records Bureau. Statistics show that, on an average , 11,500 men and 400 women are booked for these crimes every year.
Meanwhile, the city police has arrested 9,583 men and 151 women for burglaries in Mumbai alone in the last six years. Of the total cash, jewellery and goods worth Rs 4,35,20,85,897 stolen in this period, the cops have recovered gold ornaments worth Rs 44,18,69,944.
Maharashtra retains its number one position in this category for the fifth consecutive year, with Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat , Rajasthan, Kerala, Karnataka , Tamil Nadu, Bihar, UP, Delhi and West Bengal following . NCRB figures show that 11,206 men and 464 women were booked in Maharashtra for burglary and theft in the year 2010 alone. While the number of male burglars in the state has gone up from 9,042 in 2009, the number of female thieves has dropped from 602 in the same year.
Investigators have found out that the maximum number of thefts and burglaries in the state are committed by men and women between the ages of 18 and 45 years. "It's usually domestic help that commits these offences out of sheer poverty, free and easy access to wealth and the desire to make a quick buck," said joint commissioner of police (crime) Himanshu Roy. "Money to fund a wedding or to buy a house in the city after getting married is also a motive," he added. Roy also revealed that most domestic help think they are above the law and don't believe they can be caught.
Interestingly, while the conventional view is that women are less prone to stealing than men, Shrirang Nadgauda, a senior inspector from Bhandup, says the gap is beginning to narrow. "When it comes to less serious offences, the gap is lessening," he said.
More than 70 per cent of men and women caught for burglary and theft come from other states. "They come to Mumbai and Maharashtra in search of jobs," said an investigator . "After they've gained the confidence of their employers , they smoothly clean out lockers and cupboards. Since most of these domestic servants do not provide their employers with proper antecedents , and many even turn down the job if asked to provide their photographs, they are supremely confident about the burglary."
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
Having domestic help means bringing a stranger into your home, who will be in close proximity with your family and personal belongings. For your safety, it is best to hire a person of high integrity and the least you can do is know that the person you are hiring does not have previous criminal record.
Before you hire a house help:
Consider hiring servants with references from your close friends or family
If hiring from an agency, ask them for someone who has had a reasonably long association with then. Ask for details of checks the agency conducts while hiring their staff
Do a reference check for anyone you are hiring for any work at your home or office. Simply calling someone that the person claims to be a reference is not enough
Ask for documents to support work experience and check for inconsistencies
Know where your staff lives. Visit their home if possible, so you know where to reach him/her in an emergency
Ask for a proof of identity and proof of residence along with one photograph for all the staff working at your home/office. If possible , register their details with the nearest police station
Collect as much detail as you can get from your staff. Details of the permanent address, previous employment, etc. can all be of help
If you already have a servant at home:
Never open your safe/almirah in front of your servant
Never give them access to any place where you keep your cash or other valuables
Keep a close watch on their activities
Never allow friends and relatives of servants to enter your house or office premises. If they do visit, get their background checked
Never discuss financial matters in front of your servant
Never leave spare keys in the open or in conventional hiding places
Avoid leaving your kids with male staff at home. If you have to, ensure that some one does surprise checks in your absence.
If your housing society has security guards, ask them not to allow your home staff to take anything outside the building without your permission
Times View
That one of the richest states in India has the highest number of thefts and burglaries in the country may seem like a given, but it is really a sad commentary on the poor policing in the state and to some extent, the apathy of its citizens. In Mumbai, which attracts hundreds of migrants every day and where hired domestic help is hard to find, thieves steal with impunity and melt into the city's vast underbelly. Underpaid, overburdened and incompetent cops ensure that the detection rate barely crosses 25%. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom in more ways than one.
