Despite visibly heightened security in and around the capital in the past few months following a wave of the terror attacks around the country, the number snatching at gunpoint incidents have been rising in the city.According to police records, as many as 25 people were deprived of their valuables, mostly at gunpoint, in different parts of the city during February. This figure, though, was down from January where after the turn of the year a spike in street crimes saw as many as 30 cases of snatching reported.As has been for other categories of crime in the capital, areas around Sabzi Mandi including Sectors I-10 and I-11 reported the most number of cases with at least six cases reported.However, snatching incidents were not exclusive to these areas with cases reported from across the city.At least two incidents of snatching took place in Sector F-10 Markaz while two were reported in Sector G-10.Similarly, two snatching-at-gunpoint incidents were reported in the Shakarparian jungle, within the remits of Aabpara police during February.Gun-toting, motorbike riding thieves also looted people in Sector F-8 Markaz and Fatima Jinnah F-9 Park in a similar fashion.Other areas where snatchings were reported in February include Khanna, Gangal and Ghauri Town.The common element in most of these incidents, however, was armed motorcyclists targeting pedestrians walking along the roads.Motorcyclists also snatched women’s purses in Sectors F-10, F-6, G-10 and G-9. Most of the armed snatchings, however, were reported from the Sabzi Mandi, Khanna, Koral and Noon police areas.Apart from the 25 snatching incidents, at least two dozen burglaries were also reported from various areas of the capital during February.Street crime has continued in the capital despite increased snap checking on the roads and other heightened security measures, including a stricter check on motorbike riders.Last month, Inspector General Islamabad Police Tariq Masood Yasin had taken notice of rising street crime in the capital and had asked all officers to redouble their efforts. He had warned officials of disciplinary action if they failed to curb street crime in their respective areas.Apart from action, IGP Yasin had said that the relevant SP, SDPO, SHO and the patrolling officer would have to personally give him an explanation if any street crime took place within their respective jurisdiction.Meanwhile, a police officer said that they had increased checking of motorists in the capital to reduce street crime.“Criminals mostly use stolen or unregistered bikes,” the official said, adding that “Keeping this in view, a campaign to confiscate unregistered motorcycles and vehicles has been underway for the past many months.”He maintained that the campaign against unregistered bikes was an effective way to reduce street crime.Published in The Express Tribune, March 24, 2017.