In August, Karachi saw a troubling rise in crime, with 5,960 incidents reported, according to the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC). The majority of these incidents were related to theft and snatching.
The report highlights:
- 5,951 cases involving the theft or snatching of cell phones, motorbikes, and vehicles.
- 150 cars were stolen, and 23 were snatched at gunpoint.
- 656 motorcycles were snatched, and 3,385 were stolen.
- 1,737 mobile phones were reported stolen.
- There were also three cases of kidnapping for ransom and six extortion cases.
Earlier in the year, Karachi experienced over 44,000 criminal incidents in the first seven months. This included more than 31,000 motorcycle thefts and snatchings, and over 1,000 car thefts.
Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon recently stated that despite these figures, there has been a notable decrease in street crime due to new measures. The Sindh government is also investing in resources, modern technology, and police welfare to combat crime.
Previously, senior minister Sharjeel Inam Memon had attributed the surge in street crimes to “illegal settlers,” but the government is working hard to address the issue through various measures.