LAHORE: Though the city police had claimed a decline in crime rate in Punjab last year, more than 200 incidents of robbery and theft occurred in the provincial capital during first 11 days of January this year. At least 55 cars, 125 motorcycles and other vehicles were snatched or robbed in the city. Despite patrolling by different wings of police, including the Police Response Unit, Dolphin Force and others, people were deprived of cash and valuables during different incident of robbery and theft. According to sources, at least five to seven cars, 10 to 12 motorcycles were being snatched or robbed on a daily basis. It was learnt through reliable police sources that criminal gangs working in the outskirts of the city collaborate with each other and target the posh and urban localities of the city on a daily basis. However, despite heavy patrolling, criminal gangs were still at large. Dacoits, thieves and gangsters have bypassed all security measures and have made the lives of citizens a hell as the spell of street crimes continues. Although, police authorities have set a plan to counter such criminals yet criminals are looting the citizens with impunity. Meanwhile, a number of innocent such citizens do not bother to register cases with the police. Talking to the Daily Times, citizens Ashraf, Shazad, Haji Ilyas, Asif and others said that incidents of mobile, motorbike, purse and handbag snatching are increasing in the city. On the contrary, a spokesman for the Punjab Police has said that police maintained better situation of law and order during 2016, which resulted in down wards trend in crime rate of different categories like murder, attempted murder, dacoity, robbery, theft and burglary in the province as compared to the last year. He said looted/stolen items worth around Rs 1.27 billion were recovered from 3,006 busted gangs, while 9,177 dacoits, street criminals and thieves were also arrested. He added police were working against criminals and several gangs were busted during the last few days. He said that police would arrest more criminals soon after the completion of the safe city project.