House break-ins, cyber frauds, and vehicle thefts rise sharply – citizens are concerned, copsare under pressure
While police claim success in solving major crimes like murders and robberies, everyday crimes in Pune are rising at an alarming rate. From house break-ins and vehicle theft to cyber scams and economic frauds, the city’s residents are asking: “Who is protecting us from the crimes that happen every day?”
6 House Break-Ins a Day, and Barely Any Clues
In 2024, Pune recorded 527 house break-ins and theft cases, slightly down from 604 cases in 2023—a 12.7% dip. But as per Lokmat’s July 1 report, the number only reflects less reporting, not less crime. Between January 1 and June 15, 2025, Pune recorded 244 house break-ins, according to police records accessed by Lokmat. In just one week alone, 20 such cases were reported — many from bustling residential areas like Sinhgad Road, Vishrantwadi, Bibwewadi, Yerwada, Chatushrungi, and Hadapsar.
On average, six homes are broken into every single day in Pune. Hotspots include Sinhagad Road, Kharadi, Warje, Hadapsar, and Vishrantwadi.
Sunita Deshmukh, a resident of Kharadi, expressed her worry:
“We’ve locked our main gate, added CCTV, but still feel unsafe. When a break-in happens two streets away, it shakes you.”
Many localities like Sinhagad Road, Lohegaon, and Warje are now considered high-risk zones for property crimes.
Vehicle Thefts: No Serious Decline
In 2024, 1,982 vehicle theft cases were reported, nearly stagnant from previous years. Despite CCTV and police patrolling, most cases remain unsolved.
Cyber Crime: The City’s Most Expensive Threat
Perhaps the most worrying trend—cyber frauds in Pune jumped massively in 2024.
1,504 cases were registered
Total loss: ₹6,007 crore
Pune’s cybercrime losses were higher than the combined losses of Mumbai, Thane, and Nagpur
Most cases involved investment scams, phishing, and online fraud.
Amit Kulkarni, an IT professional from Baner who lost ₹4.5 lakhs in a phishing scam, said:
“The fraudster used an official-looking app and copied a bank interface. By the time I realized, my account was empty. Police filed a case, but there’s been no update for months.”
A cyber expert commented:
“The administration has failed to build strong awareness about cyber threats. Fraudsters are always one step ahead.”
While the Centre has now started pre-call alerts for awareness, the damage is already done for many.
Economic Offences Soar – But Convictions Remain Low
According to an April 2024 report by ORF, in 2022:
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40,760 economic offences were registered across 19 metro cities
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88.4% were fraud, cheating, or forgery
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Cybercrimes surged 42.7%, with 24,420 cases recorded
And what about convictions?
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Murder: 42.5%
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Rape: 17.9%
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Kidnapping: 38.6%
Low conviction rates mean criminals are slipping through the cracks.
Public Losing Faith in the System
The conviction gap has left residents frustrated. Pune’s metropolitan area is projected to reach 7.5 million people in 2025, as per WorldPopulationReview. Yet, the police force and infrastructure haven’t kept pace.
Mahesh Jagtap, a 52-year-old trader from Deccan, said:
“Crimes happen every week, FIRs are filed, but what next? We never hear if anyone is caught or punished. We feel abandoned.”
Asha Kumbhar, a college student, added:
“When cybercrimes target educated families too, it shows it’s not just about lack of awareness — it’s about lack of action.”
Pune Police have shown some success in major crimes. But the growing burden of everyday crimes, especially in the digital world, is stretching their limits. If immediate awareness campaigns and enforcement steps are not taken, “Smart City Pune” might become an unsafe city for smart citizens.
