Thieves target drain covers, car batteries and tyres in Delhi’s Shashi Garden

A viral CCTV footage from East Delhi’s Shashi Garden locality of Mayur Vihar phase-1 captures scrap collectors stealing iron drain covers outside a house and carrying them in a rickshaw early the morning of Wednesday. This incident has been reported when the national capital is already under high security and police patrolling has increased across the city ahead of the G-20 summit.

Residents of Shashi Garden are living in fear as petty criminals continue to target their neighbourhood. The incidents, which have escalated in recent months, are causing mounting concerns for the safety of both residents and their belongings.

Many residents from the locality have reported a sharp increase in thefts, with approximately 4-5 incidents occurring daily in various parts of Shashi Garden. The thefts predominantly involve the pilfering of iron drain covers, which are then transported via rickshaw, as captured in the viral CCTV footage.

Two thieves can be seen breaking drain covers in this early morning CCTV footage from Shashi Garden, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, East Delhi. Residents complain of an increasing number of such cases.

Y. Chaudhary, a member of the Residents Welfare Association (RWA) in Shashi Garden, lamented the prevalent thefts, stating, “This incident is from street number 6 on Wednesday morning. It is not new for us. Every day we hear news of drain covers getting stolen from different parts of this area. This is a highly populated locality with slums around it. Many people have installed CCTV cameras, and we can see how these scrap collectors come early in the morning and commit these thefts.”

The criminal activity extends beyond the theft of drain covers, as residents have also reported car-related thefts, including stolen tires and batteries. The situation has left senior citizens living in the area wary, as they fear intervening in thefts that pose security risks to their lives and property.

Over the past few years, Shashi Garden, a densely populated locality in East Delhi, has witnessed a series of thefts primarily occurring during the night or early morning hours. Homes and shops have been targeted, with stolen items ranging from drain covers to car batteries and tires. Thieves frequently target cars parked near residences and on the roads, and in some cases, they have even broken into homes while residents were asleep.

Despite residents’ numerous complaints to the police, the thieves continue to operate without fear. As a result, many residents have taken matters into their own hands by installing security cameras and alarms on their properties.

While the police maintain regular patrols in the area, they have struggled to address these persistent petty crimes effectively. However, residents remain hopeful that law enforcement will apprehend those responsible for the various thefts plaguing their community. Meanwhile, they are taking proactive measures to safeguard their homes and possessions.

The escalating thefts in Shashi Garden underscore a broader issue of thefts plaguing Delhi. Criminals in the city target a wide range of items, including signage, iron railings, telephone cables, and restroom fixtures. These thefts disrupt daily life, create chaos, and place additional pressure on local authorities and law enforcement agencies.

It appears that organized gangs may be involved in these thefts, profiting by selling stolen items to scrap dealers, car, and bike shops across the national capital. These incidents emphasize the vulnerability of cars, bikes, and other valuables left outside homes in Delhi, prompting residents to demand increased police action and security measures to protect their community.