This festive season, Noida residents shop for security

As the number of petty offences rise during this period, locals have decided to help themselves

This festive season, Noida residents shop for security

As the number of petty offences rise during this period, locals have decided to help themselves

With the onset of festive season, Noida residents have predicted a rise in petty offences. And this time around, instead of relying on the police, they have decided to take matters in their own hands. Residents in many sectors have started installing CCTV cameras outside their houses.

Under watch: At least nine households in Sector 14, Noida, have
installed CCTV cameras. Representative Pic

According to residents, police show a lack of interest in such petty cases, as they take time to solve. Sushil Agarwal, President of Sector 14 residents welfare association said, "We often discuss this in our RWA meetings and nearly nine households have already installed the camera. Many more will follow the suit."

Every year in October and November, there is a rise in petty crimes such as chain snatching, loots, car jacking and so on in Noida. Surender Sood, a resident of Sector 36, who had installed a camera outside his house premises, said two to three cars and accessories have been stolen in his sector recently. "Police come and go and never care to visit again. At least if we have the footage, it will give them clues to crack the cases. Most thieves are from the neighbouring villages," he said.

Go figure!
If one goes by the data provided by city cops, at least 200 vehicles are stolen each month and equal numbers of chain snatching incidents have taken place in the last eight months in the satellite town. In May, the police had asked residents to install Global Positioning System (GPS) devices in their vehicles. But three months after the initiative, it is yet to find enough takers. The police have managed to get just about 1,500 private vehicle owners in the area to comply.

According to SP (city) Anant Deo Tiwari, "Police held a series of meetings with RWAs advising all residents to install GPS devices in their vehicles and collaborated with a private firm to bring the GPS devices to those interested and install them at subsidised rates. While the initial response was encouraging, there are hardly any takers now."u00a0Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Authority has already written to the state government, requesting for an amendment in the Uttar Pradesh Motor Vehicle Act to make installation of GPS trackers mandatory.