Aizawl: Mizoram’s capital Aizawl has seen a rise in theft cases in the last few months, prompting the state police to seek help from NGOs and local leaders to ensure law and order, a police officer said.
Aizawl Superintendent of Police (SP) C. Lalruaia told a news conference on Thursday that as many as 572 cases have been registered at four police stations in the state capital between January and March.
Of the 572 cases, theft or burglary accounts for 69.64 per cent (397 cases), which indicates a significant rise in the crime as compared to the past, he said.
Police said 74.77 per cent of 214 different cases registered at Aizawl police station (PS) was related to theft, while Bawngkawn PS registered 70.69 per cent theft case, Vaivakawn PS (52 %) and Kulikawn PS (81 %), he said.
Stealing of mobile phones, bikes or scooters (two wheelers), water pipes, water meters, LPG cylinders and fire hydrant couplings were most common among theft cases, he said.
Lalruaia attributed the rise in theft cases to the need for money among drug users.
The fact that thieves easily disposed their stolen items to unknown buyers or customers has encouraged rampant thefts, he said.
Citing that the police would continue to pursue the buyers to be booked, the SP cautioned people against buying stolen properties and urged them to refrain from buying any materials, which are suspected to be stolen.
He further urged the people, especially the NGOs and leaders of localities, to extend help to the state police to curb the crime and also to immediate report any suspected thief or theft case to police stations.