Thieves target MPs, 22 houses burgled this year

The number of theft cases in the residences of MPs in the capital has stayed on the higher side over the last two years, with the registration of 22 such cases till October this year.

The number of thefts last year numbered 24, considerably less compared to 2012 and 2013. While 13 cases were registered in 2012, the corresponding figure for 2013 was 10, the Lok Sabha was told on Tuesday.

“The Delhi police has registered 22 cases of thefts in the residences of MPs till October 31 out of which six cases have already been worked out and as many as nine persons have been arrested,” said Union minister Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary.

In a written response, he said that in 2012, five cases were solved and five persons were arrested while four persons were arrested in 2013. When cases spiked in 2014, 10 arrests were made and a total of seven cases were solved. The minister also detailed a few measures that have been taken to improve security in Lutyens’ Delhi.

Two new police stations have been set up in North and South Avenue in this regard and 30 additional police personnel deployed from March. The CPWD has been requested to install security gadgets in the areas. Delhi police sources said that they are also chalking out a strategy to control such incidents. “From our analysis, it has been seen that in most cases, the accused are vagabonds who steal things like taps, wires and motors to buy drugs,” said a police officer.