PUNE, Jan 8: A rise in economic offences and violence in dacoities, were the disturbing trends in the crime, law and order situation in the city last year.The Commissioner of Police K K Kashyap pointed out that despite efforts to create public awareness regarding investment schemes such as teak plantations floated by dubious companies, an investment to the tune of Rs 8.03 crore had been made by a total of 406 people. Companies against whom the offences were registered included Aneja group, Raghunath Cotton and Private Limited, Half Land Finance Limited, Asia Pacific Investment, Anubhav Agro and Housing Development, and Yashasha Investment Limited.Kashyap said although the number of dacoities had decreased last year as compared to the figure in 1997, the use of fire arms and other weapons had increased the gravity of the incidents of dacoities. The reasons behind the violence could be abject poverty, economic situation, or sheer madness, Kashyap said.The police managed to recover valuables worth Rs 90,000 as against the stolen goods of Rs 7.73 lakh. Kashyap commended the people's participation in forming vigilance committees to curb dacoities. Regarding cases of extortion and offences by gangsters, Kashyap said the police had done considerable ground work and managed to detect the culprits. A police team had left for Delhi yesterday to investigate into the Sagar Ladkat murder case, he said.There was also an increase in incidents in which gold valuables were taken away by persons under the pretext of polishing them. A gang from Rajasthan has already been arrested. There was also an increase in housebreakings at night. The ``Watch Your Neighborhood'' plan implemented in housing societies had reduced the number of house-breakings during the day period. The number of chain snatching incidents had reduced by one against 98 in 1997. Vehicle thefts was a major cause of concern, Kashyap pointed out.
