KOCHI: For the past four weeks, a group of residents at Varapuzha panchayat have been spending sleepless nights. Reason: They are out patrolling to catch thieves. The story is the same at Alangad and Kottuvally panchayats.
This community policing initiative has proved to be a success and lessened the burden on the police department. Recently, these squads nabbed three suspects and handed them over to the police. According to Josemon, ward member of Varapuzha panchayat, their job begins once the sun sets and continues till four in the morning.
Even though only two thefts have been reported, an unprecedented increase in attempted break-ins got the people living in these areas all worked up. Recently, an elderly woman passed away after she suffered a heart attack following an encounter with an intruder outside her home.
As Sharath, a resident of Alangad panchayat, says, “It’s better if a few of us stay awake, instead of having an entire community spending sleepless nights fearing a break-in. With us patrolling the area, people will get to sleep peacefully.”
Each of these squads has three or four members. Armed with sticks and other weapons, these squads hide in the dark corners of the streets or recon the area from beside a compound wall. The gravity of the situation has prompted the members of the youth clubs, welfare and residential associations to join the initiative wholeheartedly. They manage both their day jobs and the night patrolling by taking turns.
The members of these squads have developed indigenous tactics to catch the thieves. Siby and Joji, who are part of Olanad residential squad, say, “We keep a tab on the late night motorists. WhatsApp groups have been created to coordinate patrolling with other squads.”
Plots overgrown with shrubs, vacant premises, houses where the elderly people and women live alone are paid close attention to. The residents here are not only vigilant during the night but also at daytime. However, sometimes these vigilantes go overboard and instances of members of other squads getting beaten up have come to fore.
According to the residents of these panchayats, these thefts are being done by people from the ‘Thiruttu Gramam’ (Village of thieves in Tamil Nadu). It is said around 30 to 40 members of this gang are camping in and around the region.
According to them, these thieves mark the compound walls with certain numbers and signs. “Attempted break-ins happened in houses near these markings,” say the residents. These thieves are difficult to catch and even if caught they throw chilli powder into the eyes of their captors to make an escape. “They are well trained. They can climb the compound walls quickly and also run very fast,” say the residents.
Claiming that more personnel have been deployed to patrol the areas, the officers at Varapuzha Police station, say, “Awareness programmes and workshops on how to tackle thieves were conducted in these areas.” “The investigation is on,” say the cops.