The Noida Police claimed that there has been a drastic fall in the number of theft cases after police action on illegal scrap dealers and their regularisation in villages and residential areas in the city. A 30 per cent fall in theft cases has been reported in October this year as compared to the last year.
A police official said a total of 250 theft cases have been reported in the city this year in October against 367 last year in the same month. The figure does not include the new police stations that were opened this year. The total figure including all old and new police stations stands at 298, still lower than the last year’s figure.
Senior police official said the Noida Police has achieved this after action against illegal scrap shops that had opened in Noida between September and October.
Noida Superintendent of Police Dinesh Yadav told The Pioneer, “We have been keeping a watch on the theft incidents in particular areas in Noida and found that youths working on scrap shops were involved in many incidents. RWAs and village heads had also complained to police about random increase in the numbers of illegal scrap shops in their areas. They had indicated that the scrap dealer with their companions attempted all kinds of theft in sectors and villages.”
“We had directed all circle officers and Station House Officers to conduct action against unauthorised scrap shops and close them. Small scrap shops that had mushroomed in the city have been closed and the scrap gangs working behind theft incidents have disappeared.”
Yadav said, “A meeting has been called on November 17 with all scrap dealers to regularise them through trade numbers from sale tax office in Noida. Additional Commissioner of sales tax and police officials will hold a meeting with them. Noida Police will issue verification certificate and identity cards to them.”
“Around 1,000 scrap shops are running in Noida. The business is being operated with 7,500 associates who collect scrap by visiting homes. The move is good to sustain transparency in purchasing and selling business of scrap but we are worried about taxes being slapped on us,” said Aslam, president, Noida’s scrap dealer. However, SP assured them that they would not have to pay tax bellow the business of Rs50 lakh/month.
Federation of Noida Resident Welfare Association (FONRWA) welcomed the move by the Noida Police to curb the theft incidents in last few months.