Thiruvananthapuram: Burglary remains a persistent threat in the capital, with close to 300 house-break cases being registered annually despite intensified police patrols and surveillance.According to police data, 296 burglary cases were registered in Thiruvananthapuram in 2025. The number rose from 289 in 2022 to a four-year high of 342 in 2023, before declining to 291 in 2024 and marginally increasing last year.Though the figure remains below the 2023 peak, police officials said the persistence of nearly 300 burglary cases annually remains a concern. In 2025, the city also recorded 518 theft cases and 107 robberies, taking the total number of property crime cases to 921.Police said burglary gangs often conduct detailed surveillance of residential areas before selecting targets. A senior crime branch official said about 60% of break-ins occur when residents are away for extended periods, while nearly 40% involve houses left unattended for several hours.The gangs are not necessarily looking only for cash or jewellery. As residents increasingly avoid keeping large amounts of valuables at home, burglars often target electronic appliances and other items that can be sold, police said.The modus operandi came to light in the burglary of a doctor’s house at Valiyakkunnu in Attingal. The house was broken into during the day while the occupants were away, and 50 sovereigns of gold and Rs 4.5 lakh were stolen. The main door, bedroom door and locker were forced open.CCTV footage from the surrounding area helped police identify the suspects, who allegedly posed as vendors selling toys and clothes at festival grounds and along roadsides. The investigation eventually led police to a remote village in Rajasthan, according to the crime branch official.City police commissioner Arul R B Krishna said the patrol network had been strengthened using surveillance technology, with about 2,000 cameras accessible through the control-room system. The network helps direct patrol vehicles to locations where incidents are reported.He said CCTV-led surveillance, targeted night patrolling and closer monitoring of vulnerable neighbourhoods were being used to counter gangs that increasingly operate across district and state borders.“Patrolling has been intensified across the city, particularly between 2am and 5am, when house-break incidents are more likely. Sustained high-intensity patrolling has helped reduce house-breaks in the city region,” he said.Police said several burglary gangs operate from outside the district and, in some cases, outside Kerala, including Tamil Nadu. After monitoring residents’ movements, they identify houses that can be accessed discreetly.Against this backdrop, police have stepped up patrols in vulnerable pockets, particularly Kazhakkoottam, Sreekaryam and Kariavattom. A senior control room officer said surveillance and patrols had been strengthened across the city, with Kazhakkoottam receiving round-the-clock patrol coverage.
