KARACHI: A teenage boy was recently robbed of his mobile phone at gunpoint just meters away from Baloch Colony Police Station in Karachi, and the assailant escaped easily, residents report. This incident is seen as part of a concerning uptrend in street crimes within the area.
The robbery took place around 1:45 pm on Thursday, 30 July 2026, as Hussain was leaving a mosque. He recounted that an armed individual on a motorcycle, whose face was concealed by a mask, stopped him, snatched his phone at gunpoint, and sped away.
Locals emphasize that the crime did not happen in an isolated area but very close to the police station located in Defence View Housing Society’s Phase II. This neighborhood has experienced a series of similar incidents over recent weeks, residents say.
According to local residents’ accounts, just a day after Hussain’s theft, two armed men reportedly stole a motorcycle and attempted to escape, but the chain broke during their getaway. Following an alert from a resident, the suspects abandoned the motorcycle and fled.
Additionally, residents reveal that another young person from the same street had his mobile phone snatched at gunpoint just two days prior. Over the past month, there have been numerous reports of street crimes, including mobile phone thefts, mugging, and vehicle thefts.
Locals also observe that many suspects now ride motorcycles wearing face masks and without registration plates, making identification difficult for law enforcement.
Despite tracing Hussain’s missing phone through its last known location, the device remains unrecovered, and no arrests have been made in connection with the robberies. Residents note that all these incidents have occurred exclusively within Phase II of Defence View Housing Society, an area surrounded by boundary walls and accessible through only three entry and exit points.
The jurisdiction of Baloch Colony Police extends over Defence View Housing Society, Manzoor Colony, Karachi Administration Employees Cooperative Housing Society (KAECHS), and neighboring localities.
When asked about the surge in street crimes, Station House Officer (SHO) Zahid Soomro admitted to an increase, especially in mobile phone snatching. He explained that insufficient police personnel and a shortage of diesel for patrol vehicles hinder effective law enforcement.
He added that police resources had been diverted to election security duties in the city and VIP protection, which affected regular patrolling. Soomro stated he had written to senior officials requesting additional staff and anticipated reinforcements soon.
Law enforcement leaders have recognized street crime as one of Karachi’s most significant policing challenges. During a law and order review meeting in Sindh on 21 July 2026, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho highlighted an uptick specifically in mobile phone thefts. Karachi Police Chief Azad Khan also acknowledged the problem, noting that authorities had recently dismantled a gang involved in multiple street crimes.
