Theft cases cross ₹898 cr in Gujarat in three years, ₹643 cr of stolen property unrecovered

Gujarat witnessed a sharp surge in loot and theft cases in three years till 2023, with total losses amounting to ₹898 crore, according to the National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) 2023 report. Out of this, property worth nearly ₹643 crore remains unrecovered, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of recovery efforts.

The trend shows a steep climb: in 2021, loot and theft cases amounted to ₹175 crore. This figure nearly doubled in 2022, touching ₹300.5 crore, and further escalated in 2023, reaching ₹423 crore in reported losses.

The report notes that thefts were not limited to residential areas, which have remained prime targets, but also extended to airports, metro rail projects, schools, colleges, railways, corporate houses, farmhouses, and government offices. Cash, jewellery, and other valuable items were among the most common targets.

Despite numerous cases being registered, police recovery has been alarmingly low. In 2023 alone, only ₹98 crore worth of stolen property—barely 23% of the total loss—was recovered. Across the three-year period, just ₹255 crore of the ₹898 crore was retrieved.

The widening gap between theft incidents and recovery raises pressing questions on law enforcement’s ability to contain organised theft and restore public trust.