653 cases of pickpocketing were reported in Delhi Metro in 2013 as against 141 and 133 cases in 2012 and 2011. (File photo)
A spurt of more than 450 per cent has been registered in cases of pickpocketing in Delhi Metro trains in 2013 as compared to previous years, the government said today.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran informed the Rajya Sabha that 653 cases of pickpocketing were reported in Delhi Metro in 2013 as against 141 and 133 cases in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Out of the total 653 cases reported last year, only 86 were worked out in which 89 men and 12 women were arrested.
The alarming trend seems to be continuing in 2014, as many as 101 such cases have been reported this year in January alone. Police managed to work out only 11 cases so far in which 12 men have been arrested, the minister said.
Although, police has taken various steps like random presence in Metro trains, patrolling at Metro stations for detection and prevention of crimes and targeted checking of suspicious persons, cases of pickpocketing seems to be on the rise.
Delhi Police has arrested several people in the last couple of months including members of a 'blade-maar gang' which slash commuter's bags and pockets using a blade and decamp with their valuables.
Of late, there were reports that some women pickpockets were also active in Delhi Metro trains. In the last three years, as many as 33 women and 218 pickpockets have been arrested from Metro trains, the minister said.