The Cyberabad Police have issued a home safety advisory for residents leaving Hyderabad for Navaratri celebrations, warning that locked houses and unattended vehicles could become targets for burglars and automobile theft gangs during the extended holiday period.
Police said residents travelling to their native places should inform neighbours, apartment associations and the local police station before leaving. Sharing a contact number with trusted neighbours can help residents receive immediate alerts and enable police teams to increase patrolling in the area, officials said.
According to the advisory, burglary gangs conduct reconnaissance of residential colonies before identifying houses that appear to be locked. Police said gangs from neighbouring states and districts are suspected to become active during the festive season, with groups from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar among those being watched.
The warning also covers automobile theft, as police expect vehicle-related gangs to target areas where residents leave for several days. Residents have been advised to use central locking systems, secure gates and avoid leaving valuables such as cash, gold and silver jewellery inside the house. Police recommended keeping expensive belongings in bank lockers when possible.
Surveillance cameras were identified as another important precaution. A senior police officer said residents could connect their cameras to mobile applications and monitor their homes remotely. The officer also said cameras could be rented from local stores for between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000, allowing households to use surveillance even when they do not own a permanent system.
The advisory asks residents to inform security personnel and society representatives if they live in apartment complexes. It also recommends keeping lights switched on to make a house appear occupied, covering visible locks with curtains and displaying a ‘Beware of Dogs’ board outside the gate where appropriate. These measures are intended to reduce visible signs that a property has been left unattended.
The police have also urged residents to remain alert to unfamiliar or suspicious people in residential colonies and to report such activity immediately. Citizens can contact Dial 112 in case of suspicious persons or an emergency.
The advisory highlights the dependence of residential security on both police patrols and neighbourhood-level information. By asking residents to notify local stations before travelling, the Cyberabad Police are seeking advance information about temporarily vacant houses so that patrol planning can be strengthened in affected areas. Residents leaving their homes during the Navaratri break have been advised to complete these precautions before departure.
