Jalandhar 9 November : A persistent surge in commercial burglaries has triggered widespread alarm among traders in Mai Hiran Gate, one of the city's oldest and busiest commercial hubs. In the latest incident during the early hours, two motorcycle-borne burglars targeted two retail outlets in succession, breaking open the locks and fleeing with cash. The entire sequence of the break-in was captured by closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed along the shopfronts.
According to security footage, the two perpetrators arrived at the scene on a motorcycle under the cover of darkness. One intruder was seen carrying a heavy iron crowbar, while his accomplice acted as a lookout. Working in tandem, the suspect used the pry bar to force open the locks and leverage the metal shutter upward just enough to crawl inside, while the partner remained stationed outside monitoring the alleyway. Moments later, the intruder emerged with cash from the billing counter.
The suspects targeted two commercial establishments, including a retail shop owned by a trader identified as Bansal. An estimated ₹1,000 in cash was stolen from one store, while around ₹7,000 was taken from the other. The shopkeeper noted upon inspecting the footage that the two individuals had visited the premises under the guise of customers two days prior, suggesting they had carried out prior reconnaissance of the cash counter and entry points.
Local business owners voiced deep frustration, noting that Mai Hiran Gate historically maintained a low incidence of property crime, but the past month alone has witnessed six to seven commercial burglaries. Previous break-ins in the immediate vicinity targeted an atta chakki (flour mill), Kiran Book Shop, and four other adjacent commercial establishments. Despite repetitive incidents, the lack of breakthroughs or recovered property has eroded confidence, prompting shopkeepers to initially withhold a formal police report in protest of previous administrative inaction. The commercial community is demanding immediate deployment of round-the-clock police checkpoints and rigorous night patrols to trace the criminal syndicate before further damage occurs.
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