A private bank was robbed here in North Karachi’s Do-Minute Chowrangi area, police said.
The security officials revealed that the robbers escaped with more than Rs 7 million, adding that all of them were armed and used three motorcycles.
A total of five suspects broke in through the closed glass gate and went on to loot the bank. Of these, three of them escaped on two bikes, while another – wearing a cap and helmet – took the neighbouring street to flee.
Last month, security guards robbed Rs 14.7 million from a foreign exchange company located in Defence area in what is touted as the biggest robbery in Karachi this year.
Ten days prior to the aforementioned theft, the census team in an act of bravery foiled a robbery attempt on Karachi’s Abul Hasan Isphahani road area, catching two of the three armed dacoits who had come to target a supply delivery van.
Earlier this year – in January, the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) had identified 60 areas of the city where citizens were at the highest risk of becoming a victim of muggings and other street crimes. These include NIPA Chowrangi, Hassan Square, Sakhi Hassan, Aisha Manzil, Tariq Road, Bahadurabad, Do Darya, PIDC, Clifton, and Defence.
As per CPLC’s 2016 statistics, 19,336 cases of mobile snatching were reported in the year, as street crime grew 38%. In addition, 22,358 motorcycles were snatched – the figure rose 24% against 2015. However, the authority noted that car theft declined in the period.
IGP orders inquiry
Sindh Inspector General of Police AD Khawaja has ordered the CIA DIG to conduct a detailed inquiry into bank heist instances in specific localities of Karachi and also brief him about the measures adopted to combat the crime.
The IGP Sindh in this context also sought compilation of evidence collected from the scene of the crime pertaining to bank robbery in PS Ajmer Nagri (North Karachi) jurisdiction here on Wednesday morning so as to ensure the arrest of culprits without any delay.
The Sindh police chief said the investigations must be foolproof and comprehensive so that not only criminals in this particular case were apprehended but also the series of similar incidents reported for the past some time was also brought to an end.
He also ordered the concerned officials to present a detailed report about measures adopted for the security of banks as well as shops and public outlets in areas registered to be frequently targeted by criminals.
