A record 80 percent increase has been witnessed in the cases of robberies and looting related to gold in the province because of the phenomenal surge in the prices of the yellow metal, since January this year. Talking to Business Recorder on Wednesday.
All Pakistan Supreme Council Jewellers Association President Haji Haroon Chand said gold price in international and national markets have gone up by 49 percent in last 11 months (from 24,900 to 37,000 tola), which led to increase in the gold-related crimes.
The crimes such as jewellery theft, robberies and looting of gold traders and dealers are increasing at an alarming pace, he added. He said armed bandits have looted traders in the busy markets of Saddar and Hydri in broad daylight and also deprived citizens of their valuables made of gold during travelling on highways and motorways. Very recently, a group of armed men looted 1,250 grams gold from a shop in Saddar area, Chand added.
"It is estimated that over 50 percent victims do not report such incidents to police to avoid unnecessary investigations," he maintained. In most of the cases, maids have been found involved having links with criminal elements, Chand added.
Another jeweller requesting anonymity told this scribe that the gold-related crimes in the city have witnessed increase after rise in its prices. He said the incidents of looting during travelling on highways have become a routine and several passengers have lost their valuables. "It has been observed that criminals involved in cellphone snatching are now targeting citizens buying gold jewellery at shopping plazas and bazaars," he added.
"The sale of fake gold jewellery and yellow metal coated coins has also become rampant in the city," he said. Recently, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of police arrested a group of traders who sold thousands of fake gold-coated coins. He said looting incidents have forced the dealers to remove samples of gold jewellery from the display counters. They have even removed the artificial jewellery from the display cases and have started using catalogues, he added.