Cops who protect city,find their own homes burgled by petty thieves

“With the police station across the street and police personnel as residents it’s a myth that we are secure. There is no one to keep track of who enters or exits the buildings. Petty thieves flick clothes left out to dry,dustbins,shoe racks and cycles parked outside the flats,” said Pawar.

Officials residing at the Nehru Nagar quarters added that a new rationing office in the area has become a cause for concern. “Touts and agents from the rationing office go unchecked to the quarters’ terraces to fill forms and do other paper work,” said an official.

Senior police inspector Nehru Nagar Prakash Kale said he would look into the matter.

Police inspector S Yadav,who stays at Naigaon police quarters,has lost many T-shirts to thieves. “The police personnel are not at home throughout the day. Afternoons often wear a deserted look as everyone is relaxing at home. Hawkers,women who roam around with vessels and exchange them for clothes are usually the ones who take a chance and steal whatever they find outside houses. We cannot search the bundle that they carry and the only option is to catch them red-handed which never happens,” said Yadav.

Inspector Dilip Ugle who stays at Worli,it houses one of the largest police quarters in the city,however denies any instances of crime. “Petty crimes may take place in areas where the quarters are in a chawl and has other residents besides the police. Worli quarters only has police families. Officials from the Local Arms Unit are always in the vicinity which deters any major crime,” said Ugle.

Worli police station occasionally receives complaints about theft of motorbikes parked in the police quarters area.

Some officials say children of policemen are also involved in petty thefts at times. “When residents complain,we summon children of police personnel for questioning. Sometimes,our grilling works but if they deny then we have no alternative but to leave them with a warning,” said an official.