KARACHI – A non-functional distribution box of Safe City cameras near Sea Rock Apartments in Clifton, Karachi, was recovered on Thursday after being reported stolen earlier this month, police said. The theft had been reported to local authorities on November 6. South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza confirmed the recovery and said investigations are ongoing.
The DIG noted that the stolen box was part of a non-energised, non-operational pole site. “A vehicle with a crane was witnessed working on the pole hours before the theft was reported. Since then, a few switches and the battery were missing,” he added. The distribution box was installed at an extreme height, making it unlikely that a single person could have carried out the theft. The cameras in the area were also not operational.
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DIG Raza described the locality as a “completely blacked out area” without street lights or private CCTVs. Only a single camera at Sea Rock Apartments provides limited coverage of the parking area. Letters requesting installation of street lights from the Cantonment Board Clifton and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation have reportedly gone unanswered.
The Safe City distribution box is part of the first phase of the Karachi Safe City Project, which launched on May 31, 2024. Under the initiative, 891 surveillance cameras were deployed across the city. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah recently approved expanding the project to more high-risk areas, including DHA and the districts of South, East, and Malir.
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Authorities are coordinating with the Sindh Safe City Authority to develop strategies to prevent similar thefts in the future, and further investigation into the incident is ongoing.