As the year comes to an end, Goa is facing a worrying increase in criminal activities, particularly a series of organized thefts aimed at educational institutions during the vacation period. The most recent incident took place at Shantadurga School in Bicholim, making it the eighth school burglary in the past months.
On December 23, thieves struck Mahalakshmi High School in Kudnem, making off with a significant amount of cash, including examination fees. Despite a complaint to the Bicholim police, investigations involving fingerprint experts and sniffer dogs have yet to uncover any leads.
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A similar attempted theft occurred in Mollem, Dharbandora, at Abhinav Vidyamandir Vidyalaya. Fortunately, the thieves left empty-handed, and the police are relying on the school’s CCTV footage to crack the case.
The surge in school thefts started in October, with four schools reporting similar incidents. Regina Martyrum High School, Fr Basilio Andrade Memorial Higher Secondary School, a higher secondary school at Dapot-Mashem, and Shri Shradhanand Vidyalaya School were all victims of thefts wherein money and valuables were stolen.
In November, thieves broke into St Jude’s High School in Betalbatim and stole money and the school’s CCTV DVR. Matoshree Baburao Khandeparkar High School in Khandepar also fell victim to thieves, losing Rs 2.50 lakh. Authorities are now considering the involvement of an organized gang, given the striking similarities in their approach.
Parents and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) are concerned about the repeated targeting of educational institutions. They are urging authorities to implement enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of school premises.
The police have assured the public that all cases are actively under investigation. The focus remains on reviewing CCTV footage, analyzing criminal records, and collaborating with other states to apprehend the culprits.
