Citizens in Karachi continued to be robbed during the Eid holidays as in one incident, bandits stole valuables worth over Rs12.5 million from a house in Azizabad, and in another robbery, thieves broke into the residence of a media professional in Liaquatabad and escaped with cash, gold jewellery and other valuables.
According to police, the robbery incident in Azizabad took place in Federal B Area Block 9 where more than six armed robbers stormed a house in broad daylight and held the family hostage at gunpoint.
One of the residents, Mirza Baig, said the house robbery occurred on Thursday afternoon while butchers were cutting sacrificial meat arranged by the landlord residing on the first floor. During this time, more than six robbers on motorcycles arrived at the scene, some of them wearing online bike rider helmets.
The suspects allegedly held the butcher at gunpoint and forced the landlord to open the gate of the ground-floor portion, after which they entered the house and stole gold jewellery and cash from a cupboard before fleeing.
The family said the total value of the stolen gold ornaments and cash was around Rs12.5 million. They suspected the robbers had prior information about the valuables, as they searched only the cupboard containing the jewellery and cash.
The robbers reportedly collected mobile phones from family members during the robbery but left them behind before escaping. The family said the stolen jewellery belonged to their daughter who was currently in Saudi Arabia to perform Haj.
After the incident, police reached the house and collected evidence. The investigators said some important clues had been found and efforts were under way to trace the suspects. In the other incident, unidentified thieves broke into the residence of crime reporter Khurram Gulzar near the Liaquatabad Post Office on Wednesday night on the first day of Eidul Azha, and escaped with gold jewellery, cash and other valuables after breaking the locks.
The incident was reported to the Super Market police station, following which the crime scene unit collected evidence from the house. The Crime Reporters Association strongly condemned the burglary at the residence of Gulzar, who has served as the information secretary of the association, and demanded immediate arrest of the suspects.
Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho also took notice of the robbery incidents. According to a statement issued by the Sindh police spokesperson, the IGP sought a report from Karachi police chief Azad Khan regarding both robberies. The IGP directed the Karachi police chief to ensure immediate action through the relevant investigation officers and maintain continuous contact with the victims.
