Bengaluru street crimes are changing: Are we ready for new threats?

Bengaluru: Chandrashekar Raj, a resident of Banaswadi, recounted an incident involving his gardener’s bicycle. He told DH that his gardener parked his bicycle outside the gate as usual. When he returned after two or three hours, it was missing. “Upon checking my CCTV footage, I saw a man loitering outside for some time, observing the surroundings before taking the cycle and riding away.” Similarly, Chandrashekar’s neighbour’s maid also lost her bicycle to the same thief.

Bicycle and motorcycle thefts have remained persistent issues in Bengaluru over the years, particularly for vehicles parked outside house compounds. Police sources highlight that the city’s rapid urbanisation and growing population have influenced real estate and housing construction trends.

“Most builders prioritise utilising every inch of land for construction, leaving no space for parking, especially in rental properties,” explained a police investigator. “Without designated parking spaces, residents are forced to park their vehicles outside, making them vulnerable to thefts. In fact, nearly 85% of motorcycle thefts in the city occur when parked outside.”

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda advised residents who park their vehicles outside to invest in additional locking systems, even if their motorcycles have side locks.

According to Motor Vehicle Theft data accessed by DH, an average of 5,200 motorcycles have been stolen annually since 2015, with only around 2,000 recovered each year. While motorcycle thefts are frequently reported, thefts of bicycles, cables, batteries, and other accessories often go unreported.

CL Bhat from the NGV Consortium in Koramangala remarked, “There is a cycle theft almost every week now, whereas it used to happen only once every six months. Unfortunately, apart from installing CCTV cameras, there isn’t much else we can do.”

He further noted, “Some thieves list stolen cycles on OLX or similar websites, and occasionally, we can track them that way. However, many of them are aware of CCTV blind spots and choose paths that avoid surveillance, making tracking difficult.”

Even when thefts are reported, investigations face numerous challenges. Thieves employ various strategies to dispose of stolen goods while evading detection. “When it comes to motorcycle thefts, two major challenges arise. First, stolen two-wheelers are often dismantled and sold as parts. Second, interstate gangs arrive in the city solely to steal bikes and transport them to other states, making recovery extremely difficult,” said an investigator from the Whitefield division.

Like motor vehicle thefts, other street crimes—including robberies, dacoities, house break-ins, and ordinary thefts (stealing anything left outside)—have remained relatively constant over the years, reinforcing the adage, “Crimes will continue to thrive as long as society exists.”

Decade’s data weaves a pattern 

Data from the last 10 years, reviewed by DH, indicates an annual average of 49 dacoities, 518 robberies, 2,208 ordinary thefts, and 1,404 house thefts. However, dacoities, ordinary thefts, and house thefts have declined marginally in the past two years. More positively, the detection rate has improved by at least 10% across all these crime categories.

Meanwhile, chain-snatching incidents have significantly decreased—from 346 cases in 2015 to just 140 in 2024.

Street crimes surged unexpectedly in 2022 and 2023, in the post-pandemic years, before stabilising in 2024. While there is no concrete explanation for this spike, Commissioner Dayananda acknowledged that factors such as unemployment and large-scale migration could have played a role.

Speaking with DH, City Police Commissioner B Dayananda emphasised that while street crimes will never be entirely eradicated, the police remain focused on controlling and detecting them—an effort that has seen considerable success over the years.

CCTV cameras are a game-changer

He credited CCTV cameras as a game-changer in crime detection. Currently, Bengaluru has approximately 3.5 lakh CCTV cameras. “We have now taken crime detection to the next level by gradually integrating AI-powered cameras,” he revealed.

Facial recognition systems and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have already yielded impressive results. Additionally, the police are collaborating with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to encourage the installation of more cameras through crowdfunding initiatives.

For instance, last year, residents of Kanakapura Road pooled funds to install over 200 cameras in their locality. They even established a command centre to monitor live footage. This initiative not only helped detect over 50 cases but also reduced street crime by more than 20%, according to an investigator from the area.

Beyond surveillance, the police are optimising the movement of Hoysala patrol vehicles to cover larger areas more efficiently, enhancing police visibility and reinforcing fear among potential offenders.

Additionally, South Bengaluru police recently launched a pilot project to curb house break-ins. Residents who plan to leave the city for extended periods can inform the police, who will then prioritise patrolling their locked homes during night rounds.

While these new initiatives are promising, concerns persist about an over-reliance on CCTV cameras. However, authorities remain committed to strengthening crime prevention and detection strategies to ensure public safety.