Cyberabad Police issue home safety advisory as families leave for Navaratri

Cyberabad Police have urged residents travelling to their native places for Navaratri to take precautions against burglaries and vehicle thefts. The advisory recommends informing neighbours and local police, installing CCTV cameras, securing valuables and reporting suspicious activity to Dial 112.

Hyderabad: With the Navaratri festivities having commenced with an extended vacation, families in the city are heading to their native places to celebrate the festival. And it is this opportunity of locked houses that burglars and automobile thieves, seize upon and loot.

The Cyberabad Police have warned citizens to be careful to avoid losing their valuables. Usually, during the festive season, gangs from neighbouring States and districts come over and stay a put in secluded areas in the city and outskirts, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

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According to police, these burglary gangs conduct a recce of residential colonies, identify locked houses and burgle them in the absence of the residents.

Interstate gangs mostly from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are suspected to be active during the festival time. Some automobile gangs too will be active.

Police say the foremost and simplest thing to be done is to inform the neighbours. They will keep a watch on the house and immediately alert suspicious cases.

The police also says if those leaving their houses locked keep them informed, it helps in increasing patrolling and keeping more vigil in the areas concerned.

Stressing upon the importance of the CCTV cameras, officials said surveillance cameras are always helpful if they’re installed.

“Using latest mobile apps, we can connect them to our mobile phones and keep a watch on them from anywhere. We also get cameras on rent from local stores,” said an senior police officer.

Police Advisory:

• Inform the neighbors before leaving and give your contact number.
• Having a central locking system is good.
• Inform the local police station for patrolling purpose.
• Leave the lights in the house on, giving an indication there are inmates inside. If the house is dark, burglars identify easily.
• Cover the locks with curtains.
• Install surveillance cameras and connect them to your phones and keep monitoring.
• Surveillance cameras can be taken on rent for Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000.
• In case of living in apartments, inform the society persons and the security personnel.
• Write a board ‘Beware of Dogs’, and fix it outside the gate.
• It’s safer and better to keep cash, gold and silver and other valuables in the bank lockers.
• Citizens can contact ‘Dial 112’ in case of any suspicious persons.