#Jagrut Mumbaikar: Tips on Remaining Alert and Safe by the #Mumbai Police

Urging all citizens to remain #alert and #aware, fulfilling their responsibility towards themselves, the community the city and the nation, the ever busy and vigilant Mumbai Police, shared the following tips that will help us remain safe, in a session conducted in our institute

General Crimes

·?????? By citing how a 13 year old riding a bike died and his father was jailed, the police urged that everyone should follow traffic rules by not allowing underage children to ride or drive. This will ensure the safety of all and prevent the parents from getting sued for irresponsible behaviour

·?????? If a relationship gets soured or one gets into any irresponsible relationship and/or gets blackmailed for it, their advice was to approach the police rather than committing suicide or worse still engaging in murder as was done by an underage couple who had kept their secret marriage hidden from parents. The girl later married another person and not wanting to face problems from her erstwhile spouse got him murdered

·?????? Pointing out that chain and phone snatching were becoming prominent crimes, citizens have been requested not to speak in open vehicles, including trains. Also, while walking avoid wearing jewellery if going out early morning or late night

·?????? Report any suspicious person in your vicinity to the police

·?????? Always do police verification of domestic helps and tenants, to prevent crime and/or illegal activities that can get you into trouble

Children Related Crimes

·?????? Lullabies and stories narrated to children have been replaced by technology. This can lead to them inadvertently seeing sites they should not. Moreover, the replacement of human interaction by technology has stalled conversations between parents and children. Converse with them and learn what they have been doing, so that you can identify and flag challenges before they become problems. In this regard, the PI narrated the case of sexual abuse of children by a neighbour, which was identified by a mother who realised that her child’s clothes were dishevelled

Ladies Related Crimes

·?????? If you are being harassed, threatened, beaten up, don’t wait for multiple instances to report the matter. Things can get really bad, as was realised by an unfortunate woman who was slashed 24 times by her father in law. She was saved thanks to the rapid action of the police force

·?????? Do not travel alone in Ladies Only compartments at odd hours if there are no guards in it. Use the general compartment instead

Senior Citizens Related Crimes

·?????? Do not send senior citizens alone to the ATM as fraudsters keep a watch, hustle them, help them and then swiftly exchange their card. In a few minutes their account is emptied

·?????? If senior citizens are living alone please report it to the nearest police station so that the police visit them at regular intervals and enquire after their wellbeing, preventing any untoward incident

Cyber Fraud

·?????? Open a separate account retaining a small balance from which you are making online payments, to minimise risk and victimisation

·?????? If accessing phone numbers from Google, remember to not click on any links that they may share. These numbers are often fraudulent as was the experience of a professional who lost Rs 80,000 when he tried to order from a prominent Mumbai hotel by calling on the number listed under Google

·?????? If you get a video call from an unknown number please do not answer it. Often the person at the other end starts stripping and clicks a photo of you watching. They then use it for sextortion

·?????? If you unfortunately lose money to a cyber fraud complain online immediately and then record a complaint with the cyber cell that is present in every police station. Reporting in the golden hour can help you in regaining your lost amount

Bomb Threats

·?????? Check below your seat and overhead luggage space every single time you travel in a public transport. This will help others in becoming alert too

·?????? Don’t touch any unclaimed object, including something very expensive that seems lost. Report it to the police instead

??? ?Some General Considerations

·?????? Share this information with as many as possible and help raise awareness, alertness and safety

·?????? If you call the police to complain, don’t keep your number busy after that, as they may need to revert to you for details

·?????? Be as specific and clear in the information you provide as possible

Please remember

·?????? We have an over 2 crore population in Mumbai, so we cannot and should not leave everything to the police. Let us serve as their eyes and ears

·?????? They are patrolling keeping the city safe; even in plainclothes. Think before commenting and/or berating them for their absence

·?????? Know that they receive and tackle at least 50,000 calls a day. Have patience if you can’t get through

Important numbers and information

·?????? 100 – Police helpline

·?????? 103 – Ladies helpline

·?????? 1090 – Senior Citizens helpline

·?????? 1930 – Cyber fraud helpline

·?????? Currey Road – Crime Against Women Branch

·?????? One Stop Centre at KEM Hospital and Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Hospital

·?????? Senior Citizens Forum at Old Custom House

I have pledged to be an alert citizen. What about you?

Many thanks to DCP Ganesh Gawade; PI Prabha Raul: HC Vishnu Mahale and HC Padmavati Mathias for their initiative and guidance. We value your dedication!