Street Crime is the crime that committed in the street or on the road. Though street crimes are small crimes, they sometimes cause a big harm to the state. They destroy the legal organs of a state. They cause horror among the people. People do not come out of their houses especially during the night hours. They do not visit lonely places. Street crimes include snatching of mobile phones, handbags, watches and the money one keeps in one’s pocket. The first thing that should be noted is that street crimes are different from traditional crimes in the sense that they are mostly not committed by professional criminals. Researches have shown that the people who commit such crimes are simple native looking souls who tired of prolong poverty indulge in such activities.

The main reason for this is the widening difference between rich and poor. In the past the rich people helped or cared the poor peoples, which created the strong bond between the two classes of the society. Unfortunately, the situation is reversed. The ethical values seems to have faded away. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer day by day.

We all know that these days street crimes are becoming as being one of the most common activities of people on the streets. It is simply taken as the gamer to snatch the accessories of the people and get disappear in just few seconds. Each single country or we would say each single corner of Pakistan is affected from the street crimes. It in all cities we have the prominent name of Karachi. Karachi is the city that was known as the city of light but now it is known as the city of crimes. Armed robbery, assault and mugging are some of the main activities that are known out to be the main and important feature of metropolitan life in Pakistan. All the criminals who are involved in the street crimes do arrived in a well-armed and well prepared that makes them feel with the power that they are all set for making crimes. They know the fact that victims have great fear from the weapons.

There are many questions that come in the mind related with the street crimes in Pakistan. Why such crimes are getting so increased each single day? Who is providing them with the weapons? Why just only small and medium size businesses and houses become the target of these crimes? Some of the researches have conducted that there is great rate of crimes that is just being done by the young and poor just because of the poverty in their neighborhood. They are lacking the basic necessities of life that force them to involve them in the bad activities.

One of the main reasons for targeting the small and medium size businesses is that they are lacking in the best security measures. They don’t have the services of close circuit camera system, armed guards or alarm system. The cause responsible for street crime is actually a combination of individual and external factors. Personal negative emotions, like fear and mistrust, and the external elements including poverty and lack of support society are the most common ones.

The most common types of street crime include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Street crime against personal life and health (murder, bodily injury)
2. Street crime against sexual inviolability and sexual freedom (rape)
3. Street crime against property (theft, robbery, pickpocketing, fraud)
4. Street crime against public security and public order (hooliganism, vandalism, illegal possession of weapons, graffiti)
5. Street crime against public health (drug trafficking, prostitution).

As some of you may wonder, what are the differences between street crime and white collar crime? Street crime vs white collar crime, which is more serious? Before we dive into the details, firstly you need to know what the white collar crime is. The white collar crime, refers to a type of non-violent crime carried out by representatives of governments, businesses, officers and officials for the purpose of financial interests. The common types of white collar crime, include fraud, corruption, industrial espionage, embezzlement, tax evasion, false bankruptcy, money laundering, etc.

Compared with street crime, white collar crime won’t do bodily harms to individuals or lead to people’s deaths. But that doesn’t mean the street crime is more serious than collar crime.

To be more specific, street crime is more violent and has a devasting effect not only physically, but also emotionally and financially. Criminals often choose those that appear to be vulnerable and defenseless as the targets.

White collar crime, on the other hand, cause the most economic damage to our society. Normally a group of intelligent criminals would draw up a plan beforehand and the crime will last for a long period of time before it is exposed.

With the presence of security cameras, the street crime rate can be greatly reduced - after all, no criminals would be so fool to take the risk of being caught in the act. Even in the unfortunate case that street crime does take place, the security camera footage would be helpful for the police to investigate the terrifying attack and pinpoint the criminal suspects.

Hookers, drug dealers and other bad actors, who used to hang out around street corners, are now seeking new places to wander, after security cameras are installed.

To reduce street crime rate, the related departments need to make strict street crime punishment. Fear of being punished would be helpful to minimize street crime to some degree. Plus, the government needs to balance the security and privacy when installing security cameras in public areas for street crime prevention, so as to maximize the effectiveness of security cameras.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 11 2023

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