Karachi police have recovered a distribution box of Safe City cameras that was previously reported missing near a residential apartment in Clifton, one of the city’s upscale areas. The non-functional box had been installed at a non-operational pole near Sea Rock Apartments at Seaview. According to South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza, the theft was initially reported to local authorities on November 6, prompting an investigation. The recovered box was found on a nearby plot, and authorities are now reviewing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
DIG Raza explained that the distribution box had been installed at a considerable height, making it impossible for a single individual to remove it alone. He noted that the cameras connected to the box were non-functional at the time, and the site did not have an alarm system, making it difficult to determine the exact time of removal. A staff member from a nearby hotel reportedly witnessed a vehicle with a crane operating near the pole hours before the theft was reported. Following the incident, a few switches and the battery were also found missing from the installation.
The locality surrounding Sea Rock Apartments was described by DIG Raza as largely unlit and lacking sufficient surveillance, with only a single camera covering a limited area of the parking space. Letters sent by police to Cantonment Board Clifton and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation requesting the installation of street lights have so far not produced results. Authorities highlighted that better lighting and expanded camera coverage could play a critical role in enhancing security and preventing thefts of this nature.
The recovery comes amid the ongoing expansion of Karachi’s Safe City Project, which was initially launched on May 31, 2024, to strengthen public safety through technology-driven surveillance. In the first phase, 891 cameras were deployed across the city. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah recently approved the extension of the project to cover additional high-risk commercial and residential areas, including Defence Housing Authority and the districts of South, East, and Malir. Authorities believe that with the expansion, coupled with better coordination between police and the Sindh Safe City Authority, such security lapses can be minimized.
Investigation into the circumstances of the theft remains ongoing, with Karachi police emphasizing the need for stronger preventive measures in areas where cameras are non-operational or coverage is limited. Officials are also exploring strategic collaborations with municipal authorities to ensure timely installation of street lights and improved infrastructure, aiming to bolster the effectiveness of surveillance systems across Clifton and other vulnerable areas of the city.
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