Street crime on the rise in Karachi, 5,960 incidents recorded in August

According to a report by the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), 23 cars were also stolen at gunpoint, taking the total number of vehicle thefts in August to 150.

The report also said that motorcycles are also common targets, with 656 motorcycles stolen from various parts of the city so far this year and 3,385 motorcycles reportedly looted.

Additionally, 1,737 mobile phones were snatched from civilians, three incidents of kidnapping for ransom and six cases of extortion were reported.

Earlier, the Karachi Police reported a dramatic rise in street crimes, with over 44,000 incidents recorded in the first seven months of 2024. Most of these crimes were related to motorcycle theft.

31,000 motorcycles were reported stolen at the start of the period, making them the most common target.

In addition, over 11,800 mobile phones were stolen and nearly 1,200 cars were snatched from citizens. This rise in crime has increased insecurity among residents, with the recovery rate of stolen items being quite low.

Dawn also reported a rise in incidents of street robbery and looting in Karachi, particularly in densely populated areas and commercial districts where the risk of theft is high.

On April 2, The Express Tribune reported that Karachi has a serious problem with street crime, with recent incidents leading to a growing sense of lawlessness among the city's residents.

Street crime incidents in Karachi are often captured on CCTV and often go viral.

The report also said that the rise in street crime has also led to deaths, with 23 people losing their lives in robbery-related incidents in January and February alone this year.