Hyderabad: January 10, Posted at 2:46 PM IST
In view of the Sankranti festival holidays, the newly created Future City Police Commissionerate has issued a detailed crime prevention advisory urging citizens to take precautionary measures to protect their homes and property.
With a large number of residents expected to travel to their native places during the festive period, police officials have warned that locked and unattended houses could become targets for burglaries and other property-related offences.
The Commissioner of Police Future City Sudheer Babu appealed to the public to ensure that all doors, windows, and grills are securely locked before leaving their homes. Citizens have been advised not to keep cash, jewellery, or other valuables at home and instead use bank lockers for safekeeping.
As part of the advisory, residents are encouraged to use curtains to conceal door locks, install automatic timers to switch lights on and off, and request trusted neighbours or relatives to keep a watch on their houses during their absence. Apartment residents have also been asked to coordinate with Resident Welfare Associations and security personnel for enhanced surveillance.
The police have strongly cautioned against sharing travel plans or absence details on social media platforms, noting that such information can be misused by criminals. Security staff and watchmen have been instructed to verify the identity of unknown or suspicious individuals entering residential localities.
Hostel wardens and lodge owners have been directed not to allow unauthorised persons to stay and to ensure proper identity verification and record maintenance. Citizens have also been advised to ensure that CCTV cameras, alarm systems, and other security devices are functional and to park vehicles only in safe and well-lit areas.
The advisory further states that any suspicious activity should be immediately reported by dialing 100 for a prompt police response.
Meanwhile, the Future City Police have intensified patrolling, night surveillance, and monitoring of residential areas, with special focus on vulnerable localities during the festival period. The Commissioner of Police emphasized that public cooperation and vigilance are key to preventing property offences and appealed to citizens to celebrate Sankranti peacefully and safely.
Mohd Abdul Akram is an independent journalist and RTI activist based in Hyderabad. Founder of Deccan Today News, he has over 12 years of experience in the media field, focusing on public interest issues, transparency, and accountability.
