In recent robberies, criminal elements have used face masks to conceal their identities
In times of COVID-19, face masks are meant to lower the risk of transmission of the virus. However, some people are benefitting from the now common practice for their criminal endeavors. Reports suggest that many street criminals are now approaching their victims unchecked with the help of face masks. Typically, criminals used bandanas to cover their faces while robbing someone. It was a dead giveaway for anyone and a chance to evade being robbed was there.
Unfortunately, such incidents have also taken place in the federal capital which is known for being peaceful and maintaining a low crime rate compared to the rest of the country. Some police sources suggest that while face masks have nothing to do with the increase in local crime rates, they do help criminals get away undetected.
Ishtiaq Ahmed, reporter for APP was robbed of his 800,000 rupees recently in I-8/1 during daytime. He said that he didn’t think much of a veiled person following him.
“If it were a pre-Covid time, I could have averted the happening by finding veiled people chasing me. But now it is normal. They looted me and sped away. One had face mask while other wore a helmet,” said Ahmed.
Another citizen was robbed of 1.5 million rupees after a masked accomplice of a robber called his partner about the amount a bank customer was carrying. This robbery took place in I-8 Markaz. A bank employee said that it is not possible anymore to notice anyone suspicious since everyone is wearing a face mask.
The crime rate in the federal capital has been a matter of concern for many recently. While police numbers indicate that the crime rate is falling, the increasing robberies in the main Islamabad city is definitely an increasing headache. Law enforcement agencies must take this seriously before the crime spreads to all parts of the city and gets truly out of control.