Even as the Police Department every year advises the public to inform it when the family members set out for long vacations, Kochiites seem to be disinterested in involving police to safeguard their property and house.
This assumes significance as Kochi has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of theft cases. It is also the place where the highest number of people from other places reside.
T J Joseph, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Control Room, has revealed that the office barely receives any phone call from the public informing that they are going out for vacation.
“As per the directive, police officials at the control room have to be informed when the house owners go for vacation. If informed, the police vehicles will monitor the house during the night patrolling. The public can inform us by dialling 100 and give their address and telephone number to us. We would be giving special attention to those houses,” T J Joseph said.
A top police official said the public lack the confidence in police and have instead installed security gadgets.
“The public after watching movies believe that police are having nexus with the robbers. They think that if they reveal their tour plan, we will pass it on to the robbers. But nowadays the burglars even know how to break into the house which has CCTV cameras,” police said.
Tommy Sebastian, Assistant Commissioner, Special Branch, said that people should not be afraid of informing police about their absence.