MONDAY, JULY 01, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO; A steep rise in theft cases across Salcete has turned out to be a nightmare for residents especially the senior citizens residing in apartments with culprits decamping with valuables such as gold, cash, and electronic items.
Stating that living in apartments has now become a nightmare, senior citizens said burglars are targeting the apartments in various parts of Salcete, which are empty and have easy escape routes.
They demanded that the police should take note of the grievances of residents staying in isolated areas, and increase patrolling, especially during the night. Salcete taluka has witnessed a number of burglaries in the last four months with incidents involving the theft of cash, gold ornaments, and mobile phones from residences and workshops.
However, the police have yet to make headway in solving theft cases, including an attempted break-in with the miscreants caught on CCTV cameras.
According to sources in panchayats, the influx of migrant workers is believed to have contributed significantly to the surge in crimes such as thefts and burglaries, and have urged the police to increase patrolling and complete tenant verification exercises.
The list of thefts and burglaries is unending as the men in uniform are yet to solve most cases.
The Cuncolim Police registered two theft cases, wherein gold ornaments valued at Rs 14 lakh were stolen. Despite interrogating several suspects, seeking assistance from the dog squad and fingerprint experts, no arrests have been made till date.
This month, unknown persons decamped with gold ornaments and other valuables worth Rs 2.8 lakh from a house in Colva. Yvette Maria Santimano had lodged a complaint in this regard.
In another theft case, Shaikh Nedar Kadar, a resident of Mahalaxmi Residency, Sancoale, complained to Fatorda Police that at SGPDA Ground, Fatorda Goa, an unknown accused person stole valuables including a laptop and other devices worth Rs 79,400.
Similarly a resident of Canacona lodged a complaint with the Canacona police that, some persons entered his house at Poinguinim, by breaking open the latch of the main door and committed theft of gold ornaments and cash worth Rs 3,50,000 from the cupboard. The police immediately arrested the accused.
In another case, Savitri Nagu Naik from Sanguem, complained that the accused person effected entry into her house by breaking open the main door and stole Rs 20,000.
Cuncolim police registered two theft cases, wherein gold ornaments together valued at over Rs 14 lakh were stolen. Despite interrogating several suspects, seeking assistance from the dog squad and fingerprint experts, no arrests have been made so far.
A residence in Balli was robbed of gold ornaments worth Rs 4.32 lakh and in a second case cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 8.5 lakh including Rs 15,000 in cash, were stolen from a house in Cuncolim. In both cases unknown individuals had been booked under Sections 457 and 380 of IPC.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior police official said a probe is underway, and the police have analysed CCTV footage and recorded people’s statements to nab the culprits. “We have gathered intelligence and are preparing a list of suspects, and also considering migrants, who may have left Goa. This information will help us trace them,” he said.
The Verna Police registered a theft case in April, following a complaint from Khedi Prakash from Cortalim who alleged that three individuals entered his workshop and stole four mobile phones of his staff, worth Rs 75,000. An offence has been registered under Section 380 read with Section 34 of the IPC against unknown persons.
The Colva Police collected the CCTV footage of an attempted break-in at a house in Betalbatim during broad daylight. Despite this evidence, no arrests have been made thus far.
The police are yet to solve several daring robberies reported in the past six months across Salcete, including burglaries at six schools, and break-in at a jewellery shop in Chinchinim.
