FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Concerned residents across Mormugao taluka are sounding the alarm over a recent spate of thefts, prompting calls for immediate action to bolster security measures and ensure the safety of the community.
The surge in theft incidents, including break-ins at schools, has sparked anxiety among locals, who are now urging authorities to ramp up night patrolling efforts to curb criminal activities.
While there have been cases of house break-ins as well, locals are concerned by the brazen nature of the thefts, showing that the criminals have no fear of the law.
While the police have responded to reported thefts and made some arrests, residents feel that more proactive measures are needed to prevent further incidents.
“The Home Department and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should take this very seriously and ensure that all crimes are addressed promptly because people’s hard work and people’s hard-earned money are being robbed like this, which could lead to significant problems for the residents,” said Olencio Simoes from Cortalim.
Simoes added that many cases of house burglaries have gone unreported in the media, emphasising that the situation is far more alarming than it is made out to be. He also recalled that this first began with chain-snatching incidents a year ago, which progressed to bikes being stolen, and now houses and schools are being targeted.
The activist said that it is important that the culprits are brought to task by the police so that a good precedent is set, or else the thieves or gangs may be emboldened to commit even more crimes, which could result in physical harm to people too. He gave the example of a house in Velsao that was ransacked, while there was a break-in at Chicalim as well, this week.
Locals pointed out that there have been thefts in various parts of the taluka, adding that the thieves are carefully monitoring places they can target.
Simoes also referred to gang violence incidents at Zuari Nagar and added that such incidents also need to be addressed to make the residents feel safer.
There was also a call among locals for thorough checking of the history of migrants living across the constituencies of the taluka, including the slums.
On a concluding note, locals called on the authorities concerned to urgently come out with comprehensive strategies to deter criminal activities and restore peace of mind.
