You could be next, cops warn public about pickpockets

Even as the festive season brings cheer to people as well as traders, criminals use the crowd and congestion during the period to target gullible persons in public places. To prevent such crimes, the Secretariat Colony police have been conducting various programmes to create awareness among the public to be on the watch against such offenders.

Attention-diversion is the most common of crimes during festival season, Secretariat Colony inspector Rajeshwari told DT Next. “Criminals will approach people like innocent persons and steal their valuables in the guise of helping them. People may have come across such crimes; we want to remind them that they, too, could fall victims. We are using MTC buses as messengers. The entire strength of Secretariat Colony police station is involved in the initiative and we have planned to cover as many buses as possible before Deepavali,” said the inspector.

The police personnel are also going on a cycle rally every day to create awareness about on the restriction that the Supreme Court’s order laid down on bursting crackers. The inspector said that the cycle rally has become popular among people, as they have started receiving the personnel at junctions also to report their grievances.

“We are planning to continue the cycle rally and are using as a mode of disseminating information required for public. We also speak to minor girls about good and bad touch to prevent from falling victim to sexual exploitation,” said inspector Rajeshwari.