GUWAHATI, Feb 6 � City Police apprehended 13 persons in the last 24 hours in connection with crimes against property � mostly incidents of theft � that have, of late, witnessed a spurt in various parts of the city.
Police also recovered LCDs, computers, cylinders, and many other articles that were stolen from different parts of the city in the recent past.
Even as police was launching a crackdown on thieves and burglars, a mobile store at Bhangagarh became the latest victim of burglary. A large number of mobile handsets were reportedly stolen from the store late last night.
About a week back, burglars decamped with valuable articles from six shops in front of the high-security Assam Staff Administrative College at Jawahar Nagar.
City SSP AP Tiwari said that police operations would continue to nab all the accused who were released on bail in the last ten days to prevent crime against property.
Police is using sniffer dogs to trace the culprits.
Meanwhile, recurring incidents of theft � both at citizens� residences and shops � are giving a harrowing time to the city residents.
�With thefts and burglaries occurring at an unprecedented scale, people are passing sleepless nights. This is a poor reflection on the State capital�s law and order. The police should exhibit greater professionalism and the Government, too, should equip the forces with the required manpower, infrastructure and training,� a resident of Rukminigaon area which witnessed several burglary cases, said.
Another resident rued that the police was not putting up a matching effort to take on the criminals who were operating with a lot of sophistication in recent years.
�Safeguarding the lives and property of the citizens is a basic responsibility of the police and the Government. Unfortunately, the police has been found to be wanting when it comes to discharging this crucial obligation,� he said.
