More cases registered, but solved too: Police

22 people were arrested in 2014, while last year 36 were held. This year, within the first six months, 24 people have already been arrested

The statistics of credit/debit card fraud showed more than one such case get reported to the city police daily.

Even as total number of accused arrested is increasing every year, the huge number of cases getting registered is directly affecting the overall detection percentage, putting the police in bad light. The detection rate between 2015 and 2014 is far less when compared to detection rates in 2013 to 2010. Only 24 of the 211 cases registered this year have been detected (11.37 per cent) (HT)

Last year, however, a total of 320 credit/debit card fraud cases were registered with the daily average being less than one case, unlike this year.

The silver lining is that the police are performing better with more accused getting arrested every year. In 2014, 22 people were arrested, while last year 36 were held. This year, within the first six months, 24 people have already been arrested.

A cyber expert said, “The figures also reveal an interesting fact that every year the number of cases detected by the police is more irrespective of the fact that more cases are getting registered now. This paints a clear picture that the Mumbai police needs to catch up with the crime by increasing more manpower, technical expertise and cooperation required from telecom companies and banks to curb the menace.”

A police officer, who has investigated a lot of cyber-crimes, said, “Loopholes or mistakes made by banks and mobile companies also lead to our probe hitting a dead end. For example, when an account is opened in a bank, the customer gives the address of a place where he lives on rent. The moment he changes his address it gets difficult for us to trace him.”

The officer added, “Sometimes he also uses bank account of a third person and gives him a cut money. To increase their sales, the mobile network companies give out numbers without verification. The culprits then use these mobile numbers acquired on forged documents and switch it off soon after they have conned a person. Also, they withdraw and spend the money quickly making it impossible to recover it.”

Even as total number of accused arrested is increasing every year, the huge number of cases getting registered is directly affecting the overall detection percentage, putting the police in bad light. The detection rate between 2015 and 2014 is far less when compared to detection rates in 2013 to 2010. Only 24 of the 211 cases registered this year have been detected (11.37 per cent).

In 2015, out of the 320 cases, 36 cases were detected (11.25 per cent). While in 2014, the detection percentage was 12 per cent, in 2013 it was 62 per cent, in 2012 it was 75 per cent, in 2011 it was 95 per cent.

Former director general of police (Maharashtra) D Sivanandhan told HT that the police stations were hesitant in registering these cases a few years back.

“The figures also reflect the readiness of the police to register offences,” he said on the increase in cases.

He suggested that on-the-job training was the best way forward. Sivanandhan also said banks’ support is dismal. “They cannot simply shy away from their responsibilities by blaming the customer. Even after such incidence, their cooperation level is better not discussed,” he said.