Haryana Police fear wearing of masks in public may increase crimes

Jewelers, banks and gold loan companies have been asked to be cautious

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As wearing of masks in public places became mandatory, Haryana Police fear that this may come as a blessing in disguise for robbers and a thieves. The police have asked jewelers, banks and gold loan companies to ensure getting an 'off mask' CCTV image of anyone entering their premises.

DGP Manoj Yadava asked the district police commissioners and SPs to direct establishments engaged in large cash transactions to “ensure that anybody entering their premises will have to take off mask once in front of CCTV cameras” in order to prevent possible crimes. The district police chiefs have been asked to ensure that these instructions are pasted at the entry gates of all such establishments in their respective jurisdictions.

“With the gradual opening up of the lockdown, there is a possibility of criminal elements taking advantage of the trying times by wearing face masks. If any unfortunate incident happens, the criminals can be apprehended with the help of the photograph captured in CCTV cameras. I advise people against carrying large quantities of cash while going out,” said the DGP. He also added that jewelers and other such establishments must install CCTV cameras if they do not already have them in place.

“The state government has mandated wearing of masks in all public places. We suspect that this can be misused by criminals to target vulnerable high cash yielding institutions like jewelers, banks or loan agents and thus as a precaution they have been asked to start the exercise. The guards on duty are already regulating staggered entry and now they would be required to ask all to pull down the mask for a second and turn towards camera. This small caution will be a big deterrent,” said Faridabad Commissioner of Police K.K. Rao.