VALPOI
Seven burglaries have reportedly taken place in Chorla village of Khanapur taluka, bordering Goa, over the past 20 days, raising concern among residents.
Unknown burglars allegedly targeted locked houses, broke open doors and locks, and fled with valuables and household items. Despite the seven reported incidents, no official complaint has reportedly been registered at Khanapur Police Station so far.
Many Chorla residents stay in Goa for employment and return to the village only periodically, leaving several houses vacant for extended periods. The burglars are suspected to have kept watch on such houses before breaking in.
In several cases, owners reportedly learnt of the burglaries only after neighbours noticed broken locks or open doors.
Residents suspect some victims may be reluctant to approach the police because of the inconvenience of making repeated visits to the police station during investigations.
They have demanded increased night patrolling, checks on suspicious persons and vehicles, and preventive measures around frequently locked houses.
Residents have also called for greater police vigilance and coordination along the Goa-Karnataka border, citing the considerable movement of people between the two states for employment and other purposes.
They said better coordination between police authorities on both sides of the border was necessary to prevent further incidents.
