Crime data report: Daylight break-ins a concern in Ludhiana, but burglaries drop to a 7-year low.

Ludhiana: Daytime break-ins now account for nearly one in four burglaries in this city. Newly released National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data triggers public concern over the industrial hub’s daytime security systems.The 2024 annual report reveals that bold daylight offenses comprised nearly 23% of all burglaries recorded across the industrial hub. While the figures expose a vulnerable city during daylight hours, the overall crime data offers a silver lining: total burglaries in Ludhiana have plunged to their lowest levels in seven years.The drop marks a significant turnaround for the city, which just one year prior ranked as the top burglary hotspot among all Punjab districts and police commissionerates. Ludhiana has now fallen to seventh place statewide for total break-ins.However, daylight property crime remains a distinct challenge. Ludhiana ranks third across Punjab for daytime offenses, trailing only Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. Local law enforcement attributes the overall decline to intensified preventive measures.“The drop in overall burglaries is a positive sign, and steps are being taken to ensure that numbers decrease further,” a senior police official said. “We have increased patrolling and field presence to curb these crimes. However, residents must also take precautions, particularly when leaving their homes vacant during holidays or social functions.”Despite the official drop in numbers, local residents argue that high-visibility daytime offenses undermine public confidence. “All forms of burglary must be tackled, but daylight break-ins are a serious concern,” local resident Amarjit Kaur said. “They reflect poorly on the city’s policing and security framework.”Other community members expressed skepticism over the official statistics, suggesting the actual incident rate could be higher due to underreporting and a general hesitation to approach police stations.PUNJAB BURGLARIES (2024)Police Dist | Total | Day | NightPatiala | 221 | 26 | 195Hoshiarpur | 189 | 44 | 145Mohali | 177 | 0 | 177Kapurthala | 177 | 30 | 147Jalandhar CP | 174 | 66 | 108Sangrur | 169 | 23 | 146Ludhiana CP | 153 | 35 | 118Amritsar CP | 144 | 30 | 114Jalandhar Rural | 143 | 28 | 115State Total (All Dists) | 3,160 | 515 | 2,645Note: CP denotes commissionerate of policeLUDHIANA THEFTS (2017–24)Year | Total | Day2024 | 153 | 352023 | 269 | 502022 | 301 | 662021 | 293 | 392020 | 215 | 412019 | 309 | 592018 | 354 | 552017 | 314 | 56SEPT 2024 SpreeSingle-Day Spike | Highlighting the vulnerability of affluent neighbourhoods, burglars struck three distinct Ludhiana residential areas on a single day in Sept 2024Targeted Sectors | The break-ins occurred in New Rajguru Nagar, Model Town, and Shastri Nagar, prompting calls for localised security upgrades