Burglars try their luck on MLA’s office
TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Burglars broke into three shops and tried to enter nine other shops, including the BJP office of Vasco legislator Carlos Almeida, in the port town in the wee hours of Monday.
While burglars decamped with cash of Rs 14,000 from an electrical shop and a hotel, attempts were made to enter the office of Almeida, an electrical shop, a government departmental store, a pharmacy along the Swantantra Path and three other shops in Vasco.
Vasco Police Sub Inspector Nikhil Palekar said they had found the safe of the electronic shop abandoned in the municipal garden.
Some BJP workers, who were present at the site, said it was for the first time that burglars had tried to break open the BJP office. Shopkeepers have, however, claimed that burglaries have been reported in various parts of Vasco during the Vasco Saptah since the last five years.
Almeida was unable to comment into the attempted burglary at his office and told Herald that he was out of station, while Speaker Rajendra Arlekar, who was at his residence at Mangor Hill, visited the site to take stock of the various burglaries in the port town.
“This is not for the first time that the burglars have attempted to break so many shops, as earlier too the burglars attempted to break about four to five shops in the same area,” said Arlekar.
Arlekar said he would speak to Mormugao Deputy Superintendent of Police Laurence D’Souza and Vasco Police Inspector Rupendra Shetgaokar to intensify night patrolling in the city.
“As the Vasco Saptah festival is fast approaching, more care has to be taken by the police and the administration. The police force will be temporarily increased during the Saptah to curb such crimes,” said Arlekar.
Admitting that there is police shortage all over the state, Arlekar has accused the previous government of failing to recruit the police force necessary for the state.
