PUNE: Citizens better watch out, particularly if you live any of the 18 localities which has been identified by the city crime branch as %u2018most prone%u2019 to house break-ins and thefts (HBTs).
An analysis of 1,300 HBTs reported in 2007 by the crime branch has revealed that it is not just the fringe areas, such as Chinchwad village, Nigdi, New Sangvi, Dhankawadi and Mithanagar, but upmarket areas like Shivajinagar, are also prone to house break-ins. These are the localities that figure prominently in the list prepared by the crime branch.
Other areas include Pimpri-Chinchwad New Town Development Authority (PCNTDA), Bhosari, Hadapsar, Wanowrie, Old Sangvi, Kalewadi, Aundh, Yerawada, Bibvewadi, Tingrenagar and Kondhwa.
In fact, Chinchwad village, Nigdi, PCNTDA, Hadapsar and Wanowrie had reported over 20 HBTs each in 2007.
The remaining localities saw between 10 to 20 cases of thefts and house break-ins last year. There are 50 more areas, such as Sadashiv Peth, Nana Peth, F.C. road, Prabhat road, J.M. road, Sinhagad road, Maharshinagar and Handewadi, among others, which reported between 5 to 10 HBTs in 2007.
The common modus operandi employed by thieves was breaking locks or cutting window grills to enter the house.
Other methods deployed were breaking door latch, use of duplicate keys to open locks and driving holes in the walls of jewellery shops.
