Bhubaneswar, Jan. 28: Money and property related crimes such as robbery, burglary, theft, dacoity and swindling have gone up in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Police have released the annual crime figure of 2013 for twin cities — which states that the total number of crimes has gone up by 11.83 per cent. Statistics revealed that in comparison to 2012, last year witnessed an increase in crimes in both the cities. However, the percentage of detection on total number of cases registered last year saw a decline over the year before.

Last year, in crimes such as robbery, burglary, theft, dacoity and swindling, not only the number of cases increased, but also the detection rate fell. Even rioting cases also went up last year, while its detection remained constant in comparison to 2012.

Despite the detection rate falling by 2 per cent, police commissioner R.P. Sharma said it had been satisfactory. “The police have been emphasising on registration of complaints and carrying out probes. That is the reason behind increase of crime figures,” said Sharma.

On the other hand, murder, rape, dowry related cases and motor vehicle accidents have decreased or remained constant. Besides, the police gained success in recovering properties in cases of robbery and burglary, while theft and dacoity have showed their failure in recovering the stolen objects. In dacoity cases, last year, the police managed to have 29 per cent recovery in comparison to 88 per cent recovery rate in 2012.

Residents feel that poor patrolling is responsible for increase in theft and burglary cases. “Often these crimes take place in the early hours. The police must intensify its patrolling at late night hours,” said Laxmisagar resident Padmanav Sahu.

Of the 33 PCR vans for Bhubaneswar, many are not plying properly due to poor maintenance. “We are planning to get 10 additional PCR vans for Bhubaneswar. We would intensify night patrolling and the drive against open drinking in twin cities,” said Sharma.

This year, for the first time, the police revealed the number of cases registered in connection with illegal arms. Of 69 cases registered last year, 40 arms and 98 ammunitions were recovered. Bhubaneswar witnessed 54 cases, while the police could register 15 cases in Cuttack, where several instances of firing had been reported last year.

Regional passport officials have blamed the police for not co-operating with residents in passport verification matters. But, the police said that in the twin cities last year, of 23,755 applications, they cleared 21,082 and only 2,613 were pending. Besides, character and antecedent verification by the police officials has suffered a little hit back last year due to personnel shortage. In 2011 and 2012, they had achieved 100 per cent success.

The police had booked 293 persons last year under preventive sections, which is almost double than 2012, when 152 people had been booked. An official said that to prevent crime such steps were needed sometimes, and last year, by booking these people the police had managed to avoid crimes in many instances.

In enforcing traffic rules and regulations, the police found greater success with 1,51,078 violators fined last year in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar in comparison to 2012, when 1,25,653 people had been fined.

Sharma said the police would start a training course from February to improve behaviour and conduct of police personnel. “We are also planning to rope in trained experts for counselling in domestic disputes. We have also set a target of conducting at least two police public interactions every year in each police station,” said Sharma.