CALANGUTE: The pay parking lot at the area near Bandodkar statue in Calangute is a cause of concern for the business community and tourists as time and again the tourists are robbed of the their belonging from parked vehicles.
Many a cases have been reported and are increasing day by day while a couple of times the locals have done the duty of the police — thrashing thieves even at late nights. The business community has opined that there is an urgent need for police patrolling in the parking lot of Calangute beach.
The tourists parking their vehicles in the pay parking area at the Calangute beach have been robbed of their belongings including mobiles and credit cards on several occasions cutting short their holiday tours. The tourists have questioned as to how their belongings can be robbed in a pay parking area which needs to be safe at all times.
“We parked our vehicle and went for a swim leaving all our belongings including cash, credit cards, cameras and mobiles. But when we came back everything was missing. We have no cash either to eat or drink. So, how are we going to enjoy our holiday trip? We parked our vehicle by paying the parking fees thinking our car and belongings will be safe but it was just the opposite. We are going back to our homeland without enjoying our holidays,” said Sameera, a tourist.
“We have seen 4-5 boys roaming suspiciously late at nights trying to lay their hands on the cars parked in the parking lots near the beach area. They are the main brain behind the robberies and thefts taking place in the parking lots at night and early hours. The Police need to patrol the areas at nights or else the tourists will hesitate to park their vehicles in the parking lots and we will end up losing business,” said a local businessman.
“We were fed up hearing robberies on daily basis and complaining to the police every time. Few of our local boys came together and took up the job of policing. A couple of boys involved in theft and robberies were thrashed by our locals but they are still active at nights,” said Francis, a local.
