TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In the wake of a non-Goan couple looting foreigners by snatching their bags, Goa Police have issued an advisory comprising do’s and don’ts for tourists in the sixth edition of their quarterly newsletter published recently.
Though the advisory is at least two-to-three years old, it is worth a reminder since a string of thefts cracked by police sleuths recently have indicated that tourists, in particular foreigners, are their soft-targets.
“The Department would like to make your visit to our beautiful State as pleasant and safe as possible,” reads the introductory paragraph.
The eight-page newsletter has listed out six safety tips for Goa’s visitors to ensure they don’t fall victim to organised crime syndicates. “Carry your wallet in an inside jacket pocket or side trouser pocket, never in the rear pocket. Carry pocketbooks in the bend of your elbow, held close to your body. If there is a long strap, wrap it around the bag. Carry credit cards and cash in your pockets,” the newsletter cautions.
Goa Police has advised visitors to protect their personal belongings during their stay in hotels and avoid carrying huge cash to the beach. “Leave valuables and important papers, such as jewellery and passports, secured in your hotel’s safe deposit box. Never leave these items unattended to in your room or carry large sums of cash on your person at the beach,” the newsletter suggests.
The department has also asked to be wary of unexpected persons entering one’s hotel room. “Do not open the door to unsolicited room service or maintenance people. Contact the front desk if you have any doubts,” it says further.
About a week ago, Mapusa police arrested a young live-in couple – John Rodrigues from Karwar and Divya Chawan, a final year student hailing from Mumbai, at Arambol while they were on robbing spree. The runaway couple would snatch bags of foreigners and disappear on their motorbike, ridden by the girl. They would flee to Karnataka only to emerge after a few days. The arrests resulted in crackdown on three bag snatching cases reported at Calangute and Anjuna police stations, which had complainants hailing from Ukraine and UK tourists.
Last year, the Panjim police had arrested a Goan couple identified as Akshay and Sulochana Bhike for snatching mobile phones and wallets. The duo targeted lone victims and approach them asking for help. This is the time they would flee with the victims’ valuables. Their arrests led to solving two more cases.
With Liberation Day celebration on the cover page, the newsletter also alerts tourists to ensure that luggage is only given to a member of the hotel’s bell staff and a receipt is issued for stored luggage. It also cautions not to leave luggage or other expensive items unattended to at airports or taxi stands.
At least three such theft cases are reported to Goa police every week. Last month, Belgium national Beelen Alain had complained of theft at Calangute. Similarly, British tourist Anni Minter was robbed of currency (pounds and euros), equal to Rs 4.50 lakh during his stay in a Candolim resort.
Another UK tourist, John Charles Platt who had rented a premise at Vaswada in Benaulim was also a victim of theft. According to a complaint filed with Colva police station, he had alleged that £ 8200 and Rs one lakh Indian currency was stolen from his room.
