String of burglaries leaves Vijayawada people sleepless

• A gang is on the prowl in city
• Police are perplexed over series of thefts

Vijayawada: A string of thefts in the Vijayawada city is creating among the people. The culprits are on the rampage in the city for last one week.

The situation has turned so alarming with the thieves are striking even during the daytime too. There are as many as 20 incidents of theft and burglaries during last one week. The string of incidents is causing scare among the people. The culprits are striking increasingly flats in apartments. The incidents are reminiscent of series thefts by the alleged hard-core dacoit Adapa Venkanna.

It is suspected that a five-member gang is running amuck in the city. They are allegedly keeping a watch on the flats in the apartments. They are mostly targeting the houses when the occupants are away. They are allegedly following office-going persons and striking at their houses.

They are targeting the apartment where closed circuit television cameras have not been installed.

A couple had recently been shocked to find their house burgled when they returned to take lunch at home. They found to their shock that as much as 30 sovereigns of gold and Rs 40,000 cash were stolen. In a similar incident, as much as much as 40 sovereigns of gold and cash was stolen.

Though a separate police has been created by police commissioner A B Venkateswarlu, there is no respite from the incidents of burglaries.

Clampdown on freedom of movement during nights
The city police have imposed restrictions on the movement of people during night hours. People should carry identity if they are to move during night hours. The restrictions will come into force from Wednesday night, according to Police Commissioner A B Venkateswara Rao.

He said the police were forced to take these measures in the backdrop of incidents of thefts and murders during night time. Also, he said the city was now being “spruced up as new capital for the State.” He said he knew that there was movement of people throughout night between railway station and bus station to their homes or hotels. He asked the people to carry “some identification” to show when the police stopped them. He claimed that the measure would ensure safety of women and their free movement during the night hours. He also said the police would conduct checking during night hours.

The restrictions imposed by the police drew flak from the people.