642 cases reported till September this year
SHILLONG: Meghalaya has witnessed a rise in theft cases with a total of 642 cases reported from January to September this year.
The month-wise distribution of theft cases since January to September, as per Meghalaya Police website is alarming as the theft cases top the cognizable crimes reported under Indian Penal code during the year 2015.
While there were only 64 cases of theft in the month of January, the figure shot up to 84 in September. Except in the month of February, which saw a slight fall (48 cases), the months of March and April registered 52 and 63 theft cases respectively.
Next in line comes criminal trespass and burglary which are indirectly linked to theft with over 142 cases reported during January-September period.
A look at the year-wise crime distribution for 2001-2014, as per the Meghalaya Police website also highlights the rise in theft cases with 2014 witnessing 857 cases, while 2001 had only 271 cases implying that over the past decade, there was an abnormal rise in theft cases.
Very often, electronic goods, gold ornaments and cash have become the target of the thieves. According to police, the modus operandi of the thieves is to mostly target localities with mixed population.
Another alarming trend was the large number of juveniles getting involved in the crimes.
With such rise in theft cases, there was also concern over the safety and security of residents in parts of the state.
While many attributed the rise in theft cases to drug addicts who engaged in the crime to get money to purchase drugs, police denied this angle.
M. Kharkrang, Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills had also said in the past that the spurt in theft cases had nothing to do with National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on rat-hole mining in the state which resulted in financial crunch.
THEFT CASES FROM 2001- 2014
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
271 392 360 418 476 470 500 669 545 664 696 543 617 857
MONTHWISE DISTRIBUTION: 2015
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept total
67 48 52 63 79 87 81 81 84 642