Thefts of Apartments in Shirak Raise Concern

The Prosecutor of Shirak Province, Karen Gabrielian, has released alarming statistics regarding residential burglaries. This was reported by Aravot.am.

In Shirak Province, the number of residential burglaries increased by 20 in 2018 compared to 2017, rising from 71 to 91. The prosecutor is worried about the rate of solved cases, which he indicates is only 22 percent.

"This situation deeply concerns me. Numerous verbal and written instructions and requests have been addressed to the chief of the Shirak Provincial Police, various departments, and different authorities. Personally, today I have sent a letter to the governor of Shirak Province suggesting that the leadership of the Shirak Provincial Police discuss and identify target and risk areas where burglaries occur, and take effective measures to install security cameras in these areas, as well as implement measures to install coded doors at the entrances of apartment buildings," said Karen Gabrielian, noting that the wealthy are particularly targeted.

"Criminals mainly target affluent individuals and are often aware of the location of the stolen goods. Studies of criminal cases show that the examination of items at the crime scene indicates that the stolen property was taken from a specific location, with no signs of a struggle in the residence. The criminals are well-informed about the precise location of the stolen items," stated the prosecutor.

According to him, these thefts have occurred in apartments that are temporarily or permanently uninhabited. There have been instances where homeowners returned from a wedding to find their valuables stolen.

In this context, the Ani and Mush neighborhoods have become particularly risky. Karen Gabrielian pointed out that the method of operation for these burglaries is nearly identical, leading to suspicion that a criminal group is at work; they typically gain access by picking apartment doors or breaking window shutters.